Reid: UK backs Rushdie knighthood

John Reid said the issue was "sensitive" but the protection of people's right to express their opinions in literature, argument and politics was "of over-riding value to our society".

His comments came as Britain voiced "deep concern" over a Pakistani minister's comments appearing to state the award of the honour justified suicide bombings.

Mr Reid said: "I think we have a set of values that accrues people honours for their contribution to literature even when they don't agree with our point of view. That's our way and that's what we stand by."

The Home Secretary said some Christians were upset when John Cleese made the Life of Brian and some Jewish people were upset when Mel Gibson made films.

"We have to be sensitive, but I think that we take the approach that in the long-run the protection of the right to express opinions in literature, argument and politics is of over-riding value to our society," he said.

"We have very strong laws about promoting racial intolerance. It isn't a free-for-all. We've thought very carefully about it. But we have a right to express opinions and a tolerance of other people's point of view, and we don't apologise for that."

His comments came in response to a question at the end of a speech to the Citizens' Crime Commission in New York.

In Pakistan, the high commissioner in Islamabad Robert Brinkley, conveyed Britain's "deep concern" when he was summoned to meet government representatives yesterday. Pressure had been growing for the UK to speak out over the comments by Mohammed Ijaz ul-Haq on Monday.

Amid street protests in Pakistan, he sparked uproar in the national parliament by reportedly saying: "The West is accusing Muslims of extremism and terrorism. If someone exploded a bomb on his body he would be right to do so unless the British Government apologises and withdraws the 'Sir' title."