The hardline militant group, Jamiatul Mujahideen, has strongly protested the awarding of a knighthood to the Indian-born British writer, Salman Rushdie. It has called for a protest shutdown on Friday.

In a statement faxed to the media on Tuesday, the JuM said, 'The protest would be against the British government and the Queen of England [Images] who have hurt the sentiments of Muslims across the world by conferring knighthood on Salman Rushdie.

'The people of Kashmir will rise in one voice and observe a complete shutdown on Friday to condemn the shameful action by Queen Elizabeth'.

The statement also said Salman Rushdie had committed blasphemy against the Prophet in his book, Satanic Verses, which he wrote in 1988.

'Since then he has been hiding in Europe after the pronouncement of a fatwa against him. By choosing her birthday to award Rushdie with the knighthood, the Queen of England has challenged and hurt the sentiments of Muslims across the world which no self-respecting Muslim would take lying down', the statement said.