Rushdie possessed not only the freedom to voice his convictions but also the power to make his voice heard. Most British Muslims, by contrast, were members of an underprivileged community, one that had below-average education and income levels, lacked political and social influence, and held to a religious worldview at odds with the dominant culture. Because they possessed neither the power nor the status of a Salman Rushdie, their voices often were ignored or otherwise went unheard, and this reality fueled their frustrations.

XREF: Connects to general theories about why marginalized communities resort to extreme or symbolic acts when denied conventional platforms.

Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Intro…, loc. 355