Rushdie and the cartoon row

Great Britain's decision to give author Salman Rushdie a knighthood has provoked shock and indignation in several Muslim countries. Jürgen Tamme says that although the situation is reminiscent of the cartoon row, the West has learned its lesson from the dispute over the Muhammad cartoons: "So far European newspapers and politicians have refrained from making childish comments that could spark a further wave of protests in less radical Muslim countries and in Europe. Indeed, opposition figures in Muslim states have criticised politicians who describe terrorist attacks as an understandable reaction. So far, unlike during the cartoon row, the rational approach has prevailed. If we succeed in avoiding the mistakes we made back then there will be no need to fear an escalation of the conflict."

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