Controversy ignites over choice of symposium speaker

By Christine Iwan
The Enquirer
22 April 2003

ALBION -- Salman Rushdie's visit to Albion College on Thursday has received some negative reaction from the few Muslim students on campus.

To counter the famous author's presentation for the 14th annual Albion College Elkin R. Isaac Research Symposium, the Muslim Student Association brought an Islamic scholar to campus Monday to give his perspective on Rushdie's visit. Imam Sayed Hassan Al-Qazwini, head of the Dearborn-based Islamic Center of America, said Rushdie not only was disrespectful to the world's Muslims, he was blasphemous in his notorious book, The Satanic Verses.

"Had he not written his book, he would not be at Albion College at all," Sayed said to more than 100 people in attendance. "We are rewarding a deviant."

Although Rushdie has written several novels, he is best known for The Satanic Verses, condemned by many in the Muslim community. Ayatollah Khomeini, a religious leader in Iran until 1989, offered $1 million to the Muslim who executed the writer.

The Iranian government lifted the offer in 1998 and Rushdie came out of hiding.

Sayed said the Western media focused on the Khomeini's threat instead of providing a complete picture.

'When Salman Rushdie published his book, he insulated 1.5 billion people," he said. "How many scholars said his blood should be shed? One."

Ayla Malik, president of Albion College's Muslim Student Association and organizer of the Monday forum, said when she heard about Rushdie's visit, she initially was surprised that Albion College chose to bring such a controversial figure to the small campus, especially in light of the Sept. 11 attacks and the discrimination the Muslim students on campus felt afterward.

"He is a highly controversial writer and while some people consider his literature to be great, it is considered highly blasphemous by many Muslims," she said.

Sayed addressed questions about the freedom of authors to express themselves but said there are limits to freedom. He said it is hard for others to understand the hurt and betrayal Muslims felt by Rushdie's book.

"When it comes to this limit when I make money by making fun of other religious, this is not ethical at all," he said.

For Sayed, even post 9-11 editorials in the New York Times that make distinctions between fundamentalist and moderate Muslims, are not respectful. He said the media never classified Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh as a Christian terrorist or Adolph Hitler as a Catholic madman.

"I believe even when he tried that route, he is trying to pretend that he is objective and he is not," he said.

The study of Rushdie is a new aspect to the Isaac Research Symposium, which draws famous writers and scientists to Albion each year. In 2002, Kurt Vonnegut, an Indiana native known for such novels as "Slaughterhouse Five" and "Cat's Cradle," was the keynote speaker.

Thursday's event is open to the public, but tickets are required. For more information or to reserve tickets, call 517-629-0445 or email lshepherd@albion.edu.

Christine Iwan covers Albion and Calhoun County. She can be reached at 966-0684 or ciwan@battlecr.gannett.com

Originally published Tuesday, April 22, 2003