Muslim Groups Cause Rushdie’s Withdrawal As Claremont Commencement Speaker

Photo: Reutersv via ANI

India-West News Desk

CLAREMONT, CA – Muslim groups and sstudents pressured Sir Salman Rushdie to withdraw from delivering a commencement address at Claremont McKenna College, The Daily Beast reports. The renowned novelist and atheist, who has been repeatedly attacked by Muslims, canceled his appearance just days before the May 17 ceremony, following growing backlash over his remarks comparing pro-Palestinian campus protests to support for a “fascist terrorist group.”

“I’m surprised, relieved, and happy,” said the president of the Claremont Colleges Muslim Students Association, to The Daily Beast. The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations had publicly denounced the college’s invitation, calling Rushdie’s comments “deeply disrespectful” and urging administrators to reconsider.

Rushdie’s decision was confirmed in a campus-wide email by Claremont McKenna President Hiram Chodosh, who stated that the choice to withdraw was “his alone and completely beyond our control.” Despite the controversy, Chodosh emphasized the school’s continued support for Rushdie, 77, and extended an open invitation for a future visit.