Knighthood for Rushdie

Britain announced on June 16th 2007 that Salman Rushdie, a prominent and famous novelist, will be awarded knighthood. Rushdie was being honored for his works and contribution to literature and freedom of expression.

Rushdie won a Booker Price for his 1981's "Midnight's Children". He became a household name in 1988, after the release of his novel, The Satanic Verses. His prominent was mostly due to a religious edict calling for his assassination after the released of "The Satanic verses".

In reply to criticism, and to people seeking apologies for the award, Britain's Home Secretary John Reid said " We have a set of values that accrues people honors for their contribution to literature even when they don't agree with our point of view,............ We have a right to express opinions and a tolerance of other people's point of view, and we don't apologize for that.....,"

So, all rise and here goes, the honorable Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie...