Sir Salman Rushdie

[Ya Sam]

London, June 16: Author Salman Rushdie, issued with a fatwa by Iran`s 
revolutionary leader 18 years ago, and former England cricketer Ian Botham 
were awarded knighthoods by Britain`s Queen Elizabeth II on Saturday.

The nominations -- transforming them into Sir Salman and Sir Ian -- topped a 
long list of awards bestowed on artists, sportsmen, diplomats, journalists 
and others in the queen`s annual Birthday Honours List.

Indian-born Rushdie was forced to go into hiding for a decade after 
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a death sentence over his book "The 
Satanic Verses," claiming it insulted Islam.

His second novel, "Midnight`s Children," won the prestigious Booker Prize in 
1981 and was named the best novel in 25 years of the prize in 1993. Rushdie 
is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

"I am thrilled and humbled to receive this great honour and am very grateful 
that my work has been recognised in this way," he said.

http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=377289&ssid=43&sid=ENT

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