The Issue of Blasphemy

THE STORY OF RUSHDIE Institute, led by Dr. Kalim Siddiqi (d. April 13, 1996), an Urdu-speaking Muslim migrant from India who had settled in England. As reported in “Qaumi Awaz” (May 2, 1989 edition), another demonstration organized by Muslims from the Indian subcontinent took place in London, led by Moinuddin Chowdhary, a migrant from Bangladesh. Approximately 20,000 Muslims participated in this protest against Salman Rushdie’s book and engaged in acts of violence and vandalism. From this, it can be reasonably inferred that the protest campaigns in foreign countries, carried out in the name of Muslims worldwide, were led by a few individuals from the Indian subcontinent rather than representing the entire global Muslim population. Muslims from countries such as Arabia, Turkey, Malaysia, and Indonesia were not prominently involved in these protests. Even in India and Pakistan, only Urdu-speaking Muslims were at the forefront, while non-Urdu speakers, such as Muslims from South India, did not significantly participate in the campaign. This fact serves as evidence that this is a campaign driven by a small minority within the Islamic world, unrealistically considering itself the sole representative of Islam. A Ridiculous Reaction Salman Rushdie’s book is undoubtedly absurd. However, the reaction of Shia and Sunni scholars towards it was even more absurd. If Salman Rushdie insulted the Prophet, then