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Imran Khan cancels India trip in Salman Rushdie protest | Imran Khan cancels India trip in Salman Rushdie protest |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Pakistani opposition politician Imran Khan has said he will not participate in a conference in India because author Sir Salman Rushdie is due to speak there. | Pakistani opposition politician Imran Khan has said he will not participate in a conference in India because author Sir Salman Rushdie is due to speak there. |
Sir Salman, who wrote The Satanic Verses, will speak at a conference in the capital, Delhi, on Friday. | |
Mr Khan said the author had "caused immeasurable hurt to Muslims". | Mr Khan said the author had "caused immeasurable hurt to Muslims". |
Many Muslims regard The Satanic Verses as blasphemous. The book, published in 1988, is still banned in India. | Many Muslims regard The Satanic Verses as blasphemous. The book, published in 1988, is still banned in India. |
The author was forced to pull out of a literature festival in the country two months ago after death threats from some Muslim protesters. | The author was forced to pull out of a literature festival in the country two months ago after death threats from some Muslim protesters. |
Mr Khan, a former cricketer, is the leader of the Pakistan Movement for Justice (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) party. | Mr Khan, a former cricketer, is the leader of the Pakistan Movement for Justice (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) party. |
Death threat | Death threat |
A statement released by his party said Mr Khan had cancelled his participation in the conference organised by the India Today media group on learning of Sir Salman's participation. | A statement released by his party said Mr Khan had cancelled his participation in the conference organised by the India Today media group on learning of Sir Salman's participation. |
"He expressed his regrets to the organisers but stated categorically that he could not even think of participating in any programme that included [Salman] Rushdie who has caused immeasurable hurt to Muslims around the globe," the statement said. | "He expressed his regrets to the organisers but stated categorically that he could not even think of participating in any programme that included [Salman] Rushdie who has caused immeasurable hurt to Muslims around the globe," the statement said. |
The statement said Mr Khan had "received and seen" the programme on Tuesday evening, and took the decision soon after. | The statement said Mr Khan had "received and seen" the programme on Tuesday evening, and took the decision soon after. |
According to the India Today Conclave website, Sir Salman is due to speak on Friday for an hour. | According to the India Today Conclave website, Sir Salman is due to speak on Friday for an hour. |
The organisers have declined to confirm reports that the author will be physically present. | The organisers have declined to confirm reports that the author will be physically present. |
His event is be titled "The Liberty Verses - I am What I am and That's All That I am". It will be moderated by author Aatish Taseer. | His event is be titled "The Liberty Verses - I am What I am and That's All That I am". It will be moderated by author Aatish Taseer. |
In January, Sir Salman withdrew from attending the Jaipur Literature Festival, saying that sources had told him of a death threat. | In January, Sir Salman withdrew from attending the Jaipur Literature Festival, saying that sources had told him of a death threat. |
He was also forced to abandon plans to address the gathering by a video-link after protesters threatened to march on the venue. | He was also forced to abandon plans to address the gathering by a video-link after protesters threatened to march on the venue. |
According to the India Today Conclave website, Sir Salman is due to speak on Friday for an hour. | According to the India Today Conclave website, Sir Salman is due to speak on Friday for an hour. |
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