Salman Rushdie Warns of Taliban-like Palestinian State Under Hamas Rule

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In an interview with German tabloid Bild, celebrated British-American author Salman Rushdie expressed grave concerns over the potential establishment of a Palestinian state under the control of Hamas. Drawing parallels to Afghanistan under the Taliban, Rushdie warned that such a state would likely devolve into an authoritarian Islamist regime.

 

Rushdie, who survived a brutal attack in 2022 by a suspected Islamist radical, criticized the progressive youth who have been rallying in support of Palestine, highlighting the paradox of their backing for what he termed a "fascist terrorist group" like Hamas. "It’s strange that progressive students back a fascist terrorist group," Rushdie remarked, questioning the alignment of leftist ideals with the radical principles of Hamas.

 

Rushdie has long been a proponent of Palestinian statehood but is wary of the consequences of a Hamas-led government. "But if there were a Palestinian state now, it would be run by Hamas, and we would have a Taliban-like state. A satellite state of Iran. Is this what the progressive movements of the Western Left want to create?" he asked. His comments suggest that while the aspiration for Palestinian self-determination is legitimate, the reality of Hamas’s governance would starkly contrast with the values espoused by many of its Western supporters.

 

Rushdie acknowledged the emotional underpinnings of the recent pro-Palestinian protests, understanding the widespread shock and outrage at the civilian casualties in Gaza. "Any normal person can only be shocked by what is happening in Gaza right now," he conceded. However, he drew a line when these sentiments veer into antisemitism or tacit support for Hamas, which he sees as highly problematic. "That’s okay. But when it slides into antisemitism and sometimes even support for Hamas, then it becomes problematic."

 

Rushdie emphasized that accountability should be a central theme in these protests, urging demonstrators to recognize Hamas's role in instigating the current conflict. "It all started with them," he said, referring to Hamas's October 7 attacks that triggered the ongoing violence. During these attacks, Hamas operatives killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 252 hostages back to Gaza.

 

The conflict has seen significant casualties on both sides. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry reports over 35,000 people killed or presumed dead, although only some 24,000 fatalities have been identified at hospitals. Israel claims that about 15,000 of these deaths are Hamas operatives killed in battle, in addition to roughly 1,000 terrorists killed within Israel on October 7. On the Israeli side, 283 soldiers and a civilian Defense Ministry contractor have been killed during the ground offensive against Hamas.

 

Rushdie’s remarks come against a backdrop of heightened tensions and polarized discourse around the Israel-Hamas conflict. Anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian protests worldwide have claimed nonviolence and rejected antisemitism, but numerous Jewish students report harassment and intimidation at these demonstrations. Chants calling for the elimination of Israel further complicate the narrative, casting a shadow over the purportedly peaceful intentions of the protests.

 

Rushdie's critique carries additional weight given his history of being targeted by Islamist extremists. In August 2022, Rushdie was attacked on stage at an arts center in New York, losing sight in one eye due to the stabbing. Hadi Matar, a 24-year-old Shi’ite Muslim American from New Jersey, was arrested and is currently on trial for attempted murder, having pleaded not guilty. This attack is only the latest in a series of threats and assaults Rushdie has faced since the publication of his 1988 novel "The Satanic Verses." The book's portrayal of Islam led to a fatwa calling for his death issued by Iran's then-supreme leader, Ayatollah Khomeini. The fatwa has since marked Rushdie as a significant figure in the discourse on free speech, religious extremism, and the perils faced by those who challenge ideological orthodoxy.

 

 

Credit: Times of Israel & The Daily Telegraph 2024-05-21

 

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