Urdu Daily Alleges U.S. Conspiracy To Teach Books By Salman Rushdie, Other Indian 'Anti-Islam' And 'Anti-Pakistan' Writers

In April 2012, a major controversy erupted in Pakistan over a decision by the University of Peshawar to recommend Salman Rushdie's two books – Midnight's Children and Shame – for students and researchers enrolled in MPhil and PhD courses. The approval to include the books in the university syllabus was sought by the Department of English and Applied Linguistics and granted at a March 16, 2012 meeting of the Academic Council.[1]

According to a Pakistani media report, teachers and students expressed concern over the inclusion of the Rushdie books in the curriculum.[2]Aslam Marwat, a leader of the Muttahida Mahaz Asatiza teachers' union, condemned the decision, calling the move "a well-hatched conspiracy" and warning the university to reverse the decision.[3] The secular government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, of which Peshawar is the capital, succumbed to mounting pressure from the Islamic groups and the University of Peshawar rescinded the decision to include the Rushdie books.

Salman Rushdie is denounced by religious groups in Pakistan for his book The Satanic Verses, which is deemed blasphemous of Prophet Muhammad.

"During a meeting [on April 30, 2012], the [University of Peshawar] syndicate decided to drop Shame and Midnight's Children, written by Salman Rushdie, from the list of suggested books for PhD and MPhil courses of English Literature," a university spokesman said, adding: "No book of Salman Rushdie is or will be included in MPhil and PhD courses of English Literature at the University of Peshawar."[4] The spokesman, Akhtar Ameen, added: “There was a misunderstanding. Neither these books are on our list of suggested reading nor have we a single book by Salman Rushdie in our library."[5]

Roznama Ummat, an Urdu-language Islamist daily published from Karachi, later carried a report on the controversy, denouncing the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, which has unsuccessfully sought to introduce reforms in the school textbooks taught in the province. The government moves to remove controversial texts on jihad have failed recently. In the report, titled "Books of Indian Writers, Including Cursed Rushdie, Gets Included in the Syllabus" by Mohammad Qasim, Roznama Ummat argued that Salman Rushdie's two books were included in the syllabus in return for a 6,800,000 Rupee grant from the U.S. as part of an organized conspiracy against Islam and Pakistan.

Amid the controversy, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) – in a bid to garner public support – ordered the death penalty for the two University of Peshawar professors for allegedly approving the inclusion of Salman Rushdie's books in the syllabus. A translation of the TTP's letter is given at the end of this dispatch, preceded by excerpts from the Roznama Ummat article.

Following are excerpts from the Roznama Ummat article:[6]

"The U.S. Has Given More Than 6,800,000 Rupees In Grants To the Academic Council"; "In Return for This U.S. Aid, the Books For the University Syllabus Approved by the Academic Council Included Two Books [By Salman Rushdie]"

"In return for the British grant of 27 billion Rupees, the Khyber Pakhtun[khwa] provincial government started a campaign to surreptitiously remove essays on jihad, Qaed-e-Azam [Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan], the Pakistan Movement [which led to creation of Pakistan] and the Khilafat Movement from Islamiat [Islamic studies textbook], Pakistan Studies, Urdu and other books for 9th and 10th grades.

"However, the rulers were forced under public protest to step back from their moves; a loss of more than 420 million Rupees was also inflicted on a poor province because the [reformed] textbooks, which were already printed, were set ablaze.

"On the one hand, the British government is granting billions of Rupees [to be used] for elementary and secondary education in Khyber Pakhtun[khwa] province; on the other, officials of the U.S. Embassy and Consulates have been regularly visiting the traditional educational institutions, the Agricultural University, and the University of Peshawar for the past two years [so as to influence their syllabi].

"However, a month ago, Islami Jamiat-e- Talaba [the students' wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan] protested in advance of the U.S. ambassador's visit to the University of Peshawar following which the ambassador had cancelled his visit. Afterwards the University administration tried to give the impression through a circular that the university was deprived of considerable grant due to the reactions from the Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba and other student organizations.

"But the real purpose behind the visits by U.S. officials came to the fore some time ago, when, on January 30, 2012, the University of Peshawar's English Department issued the book list [for suggested reading and] approved by the Academic Council for the forthcoming [academic] session 2012-2013 for MPhil, PhD, and Post-Graduate Diploma; and a meeting in this regard was also called on March 16 under the chairmanship of the Academic Council Chairman.

"The U.S. has given more than 6,800,000 Rupees in grants to the Academic Council over the past two years. In return for this U.S. aid, the books for the university syllabus approved by the Academic Council included two books – Midnight's Children, which was published by Random House in 2006, and Shame, which was published in 1993 by a book house named NOFP – of the cursed Salman Rushdie who committed blasphemy against Prophet [Muhammad]."

Alleging Conspiracy To Teach Books By Several Indian Authors In Pakistan: "The Academic Council Did Not Clarify Where These Writers, Apart from Salman Rushdie [Whose Indian Origin is Known] Were From [i.e. India Being An Enemy Country]"

"With the news coming out in the open, strong reactions came from religious parties and teachers and students. Afterwards the university administration, in a short statement about Salman Rushdie's books, said that the faculty board had given approval to include these books, but nevertheless these books have not been published.

"However, the conspiracy that is being ignored is –according to documents obtained by [Roznama] Ummat – that Indian-born American writer Kiran Desai's book The Inheritance of Loss, published by Atlantic Publishers in 2005, and two books – A House For Mr. Biswas and The Mystic Masseur – by V. S. Naipaul, a writer of Indian origin – are also included in the syllabus. Naipaul had links with the extremist Hindu parties Vishwa Hindu Parishad [VHP] and the Bharatiya Janata Party [BJP], and he is the one who penned an essay titled 'A Creative Passion' at the time of demolition of Babri Masjid [the 16th century mosque demolished by Hindu extremists in India in 1992] and Allah forbid, this cursed [Naipaul] used extremely inappropriate words for Islam.

"Besides, three books by another Indian writer, [India-born Canadian] Rohinton [Mistry] were included, while from Pakistan only Sara Suleri's book Meatless Days was in the syllabus. In this regard, the university's Academic Council has taken up the stand that there remains nothing interesting about the authors of the British period; that is why the need of a change in the syllabus was being felt; all the writers of the book list issued by the Academic Council, including Salman Rushdie, are award winning. However, the Academic Council did not clarify where these writers, apart from Salman Rushdie [whose Indian origin is well known] are from [i.e. India being an enemy country].

"It should be noted that Salman Rushdie wrote the preface of Kiran Desai's book Balu Balu [i.e. Hullabaloo in the Guava Orchard] which was removed after a strong reaction. However, not only does the first edition of that book contain that preface, but later editions contain words of appreciation from Salman Rushdie. The name of only one Indian woman writer who is liked across the world is included, and she is [leftist activist] Arundhati Roy. Her novel [The God of Small Things] was included in the syllabus. Sources told [Roznama] Ummat that the Academic Council's argument is that the books of award-winning writers, including Salman Rushdie, have been suggested for the students of MPhil and PhD so that they could benefit through this literature to meet the demands of modern times.

"The sources said that these books were approved on March 24, 2010 [sic] by the Faculty Board, while the Academic Council approved it in January 2012. English Department chairman Dr. Mujibur Rahman says in this regard that Salman Rushdie's books were suggested by the Faculty Board, but these are no longer the part of the course [of studies or syllabus]. He said that there is nothing wrong in these two books. Midnight's Children deals with India and Pakistan, while his second book, Shame, contains essays from the period of Zia-ul-Haq [the military ruler of Pakistan in the 1980s]. However, these books have nevertheless been removed from the courses."

"[Previous Vice Chancellor Dr. Azmat Hayat] Gave American Authorities a Free Hand to Intervene [in the Design of the University Syllabus]; Its Result Came in This Way That the Writings of Anti-Islam Indian Writers are Being Included into the University Syllabus"

"According to sources, English Department Chairman Dr. Mujibur Rahman has a PhD in Applied Linguistics. Most of his colleagues, such as like Nisar Jamal Khattak, Professor Aurangzeb, Rubeena Rahman, Shazia Sadaf and Amjad Saleem, have only MA or MSc degrees. They are not capable of teaching English literature. It should be noted that Salman Rushdie's book Shame has been written on the reign of Zia-ul-Haq and in which the Pakistani Army has been severely criticized in insulting manner.

"The sources have also said that the inclusion of these controversial books is the handiwork of Dr. Mujibur Rahman, because he works arbitrarily. When Dr. Mujibur Rahman was contacted at his [telephone] number 9216741 to know his opinion about the anti-Islam and anti-Pakistan stand of the Indian writers, especially V. S. Naipaul, the person who received the [phone] call said that Dr. Mujeeb was in the meeting at that time.

"Peshawar University spokesman Akhtar Ameen was contacted at his number 9218663 regarding this. But the call was not taken by him. Besides them, the officials of other departments in the University of Peshawar are not ready to talk on this issue. Dr. Azmat Hayat, who had the support of Awami National Party [ANP, the secular party which governs the province] and has a bogus degree, gave the American authorities a free hand to intervene [in the design of university syllabus] after he became Vice Chancellor of the University of Peshawar. The result is that the writings of anti-Islam Indian writers are being included in the university syllabus.

"On the other hand, the university environment has become extremely tense. Some time ago, some armed persons marched at the university and warned against any attempt to damage the institution's Islamic image. Also, the Higher Education Commission [HEC, which oversees universities in Pakistan] is maintaining silence in this regard.

"Although the syllabus for MPhil and PhD is approved by HEC as per the practice, the University of Peshawar took everything into its hands. Also, Dr. [Qibla] Ayaz, who runs [the National Research and Development Foundation] NRDF-like controversial NGO and has been the Director at the Shaikh Zaid Centre, has been appointed acting Vice Chancellor to put a cover on the entire issue. He has been the teacher of Islamiat [Islamic Studies]. He has no knowledge of subjects in the field of Sciences and Social Sciences."

Jamaat-e-Islami Leader Sirajul Haq: "The Provincial Government and Western Powers Should Bear In Mind That Pakistanis Will Not Tolerate Such Activities [Making Changes in Textbooks]"

"With regard to this [controversy], Sirajul Haq – the Deputy Emir of Jamaat-e-Islami and former senior minister – says: The ANP has done what it wanted; enough is enough; the University of Peshawar will be destroyed by arbitrary changes in the syllabus; the visits by foreign envoys and especially the Americans are not without purpose; the result of their relations with the ANP is now coming to the fore; however, the university administration, the provincial government and Western powers should bear in mind that Pakistanis will not tolerate such activities at all.

"Maulana Samiul Haq, Chairman of the Difa-e-Pakistan Council [Defense of Pakistan Council, a network of religious and banned militant groups] says in this regard that on the one hand the Americans and Indians want to strangle us, and on the other they are hell-bent on destroying the minds and hearts of our young generation; the time has come to free this country from the Americans and the American slaves. Jaleel Jan, the provincial spokesman of JUI [Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind], said that it is an organized conspiracy; some people want to thrust upon us Americans and Qadianis [Ahmadi Muslims deemed non-Muslim by some groups]; that action should be taken against those who have done this, and that Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam will convene a meeting on the matter very soon. He said that we would never allow our children taught books by anti-Islam and anti-Pakistan Indian writers, including the blasphemous and damned Salman Rushdie.

"On the other hand, the security agencies have expressed concern that the University of Peshawar, which is 2.5 km from [the militancy-affected] Khyber Agency, might come under attack from extremists [i.e. the Taliban] due to such steps, because the banned organization Tehreek-e-Taliban [Pakistan or TTP] has not only strengthened its position in Khyber Agency, but Al-Qaeda has appointed Farman Shinwari – the brother of… Tehreek-e-Taliban commander Mullah Tamancha [literally: gun-toting cleric, a nickname] – as its new head for Pakistan. He earned his Masters in International Relations from the University of Peshawar. In such a situation, any such steps [to make changes in the syllabus by removing references to jihad and other extremist texts] might create serious a law and order problem not only in the University, but there is a possibility of a big action in Peshawar city also…."

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Threatens University of Peshawar Professors With Death Over Rushdie Books Issue; TTP Commander's Letter: "I Put You On the List of the People Liable To Be Killed"

A copy of the letter by Muhammad Tariq Afridi

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP or the Movement of Pakistani Taliban) warned two University of Peshawar professors to prepare for death, declaring them infidels and friends of Salman Rushdie, allegedly for favoring inclusion of Rushdie's books.

A letter handwritten by Muhammad Tariq Afridi, the commander of the TTP for Darra Adamkhel and Orakzai Agency, arrived by mail at the doors of Professor Mujeebur Rehman, the Chairman of the Department of English, and Professor Sarfaraz Khan, the Director of Area Study Centre, on May 1, 2012. The letter, dated April 30, 2012 and signed by TTP commander Muhammad Tariq Afridi, stated:[7]

"Cursed be all you who are apostates from Allah the pious. It has deeply shocked me to know that you have struck [up a] friendship with the blasphemer and apostate Salman Rushdie. Do you have more stringent security arrangement than [the police officers] Malik Saad Khan and Safwat Ghayur or [Vice Chancellors] Dr. Farooq and Dr. Ajmal?

"I put you on the list of the people liable to be killed. Therefore, make arrangements for your own shrouds in advance if they are in your fate. And be ready for the certain death and subsequent arrival in Hell.

"Signed by: Tariq

"Commander: Muhammad Tariq Afridi

"The Emir for Darra Adamkhel and Orakzai Agency

"Deputy Emir, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan"