Salman Rushdie - live: Author’s ‘feisty sense of humour intact’ despite ‘severe injuries’
Author, 75, was target of ‘fatwa’ by Iranian religious leaders over 1988 book The Satanic Verses
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Sir Salman Rushdie’s “feisty and defiant sense of humour remains intact”, his son Zafar said as the author is being treated for severe injuries in hospital after being stabbed.
Earlier the author’s agent said he was on the road to recovery after the incident in New York on Friday.
Sir Salman, 75, has been taken off life support and is “on the road to recovery,” his agent Andrew Wylie said.
He wrote in an email: “He’s off the ventilator, so the road to recovery has begun. It will be long; the injuries are severe, but his condition is headed in the right direction.”
Hadi Matar, 24, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder on Saturday after Sir Salman was stabbed multiple times before he was scheduled to deliver a lecture on the importance of freedom of expression.
Jason Schmidt, Chautauqua County District attorney, refused Matar bail. He is due to appear in court again on Friday. “This was a targeted, unprovoked, pre-planned attack on Mr Rushdie,” the judge said.
ICYMI: Why Salman Rushdie’s book ‘The Satanic Verses’ remains so controversial
Since the publication of The Satanic Verses, Rushdie has argued that religious texts should be open to challenge, writes Myriam Renaud.
Read Myriam’s full piece here:
Why Salman Rushdie’s book ‘The Satanic Verses’ was so controversial
Since the publication of The Satanic Verses, Rushdie has argued that religious texts should be open to challenge
Thoughts with Rushdie at opening of Edinburgh International Book Festival
Nick Barley, director of Edinburgh International Book Festival, said: "As we open this year's Edinburgh International Book Festival, we send love and best wishes to Salman Rushdie.
"Salman visited us last in 2019 and joined us online last year. We are inspired by his courage and are thinking of him at this difficult time.
"This tragedy is a painful reminder of the fragility of things we hold dear and a call to action: we won't be intimidated by those who would use violence rather than words.
"As a gesture of support and solidarity we are inviting all authors appearing in the adult programme to read a sentence from one of Salman's books at the beginning of their book festival event."
Hadi Matar arrested for stabbing Salman Rushdie in neck in horror New York attack
New York State Police say they have arrested a 24-year-old man over the stabbing of Salman Rushdie at a literary event in western New York state on Friday.
Hadi Matar, 24, of New Jersey, was taken into custody on Friday morning after allegedly storming the stage and repeatedly stabbing the author in the neck, New York State Trooper James O’Callaghan told a press conference on Friday afternoon.
Hadi Matar arrested for stabbing Salman Rushdie in neck in horror New York attack
Salman Rushdie spent years in hiding after a ‘fatwa’ was issued by the Iranian supreme leader in 1988
ICYMI: Who is Salman Rushdie?
Who is Salman Rushdie, what is his book about and why is it controversial?
Watch below:
Who is Salman Rushdie and why is he controversial?
Sir Salman Rushdie is an author known for writing The Satanic Verses, a book deemed by Iran as being blasphemous to Islam.Yesterday (August 12), Mr Rushdie was stabbed in the neck and abdomen on stage at the Chautauqua Institution as he prepared to deliver a lecture.After winning the Booker Prize in 1981, Mr Rushdie went on to write one of the most controversial books in recent literary history, The Satanic Verse, which immediately saw angry demonstrations.Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, issued a fatwa in 1989 with a $3 million bounty ordering Muslims to kill the author.Sign up to our free newsletters here.
Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner condemns attack
Labour’s Angela Rayner has become one of the latest MPs to condemn the attack on Mr Rushdie.
She said: “The horrific attack on Salman Rushdie in New York is appalling beyond words.
“I wish him well at this terrible time .
“This violence is an attack on free speech and can never be the answer. His assailant must be brought swiftly to justice.”
More UK politicians send best Rushdie best wishes
Home secretary Priti Patel said: "Freedom of expression is a value we hold dear and attempts to undermine it must not be tolerated."
Transport secretary Grant Shapps tweeted: "Shocked to hear that SalmanRushdie has been stabbed in New York. Freedom of speech is fundamental to all strong democracies. Thoughts with him and his family."
Shadow foreign secretary, Labour's David Lammy, said: "This is just horrific. Salman Rushdie is a lion of a man and a hugely talented author.
"Praying he makes a full recovery and his cowardly attacker is brought to justice."
JK Rowling threatened ‘you’re next’ after Rushdie attack
JK Rowling has said she is working with the police after receiving a potential threat from a Twitter user following her reaction tweet about Sir Salman Rushdie.
The Harry Potter author shared screenshots to Twitter of a message from a user who had written "don't worry you are next" in response to her tweeting that she hoped novelist Sir Salman would "be OK" after his attack in New York.
She later updated her followers on the situation saying: "To all sending supportive messages: thank you.
"Police are involved (were already involved on other threats)."
Labour leader Keir Starmer condemns ‘cowardly’ attack
Labour leader Keir Starmer has condemned the attack.
He said: "Salman Rushdie has long embodied the struggle for liberty and freedom against those who seek to destroy them.
"This cowardly attack on him yesterday is an attack on those values. The whole Labour Party is praying for his full recovery."
Watch: Moment Salman Rushdie's attacker apprehended on stage
Hati Mattar charged with attempted murder of writer Salman Rushdie
The man suspected of attacking novelist Salman Rushdie on Friday has been charged with attempted murder and assault, prosecutors said on Saturday.
“The individual responsible for the attack yesterday, Hadi Mattar, has now been formally charged with Attempted Murder in the Second Degree and Assault in the Second Degree,” Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt said in a statement on Saturday.
“He was arraigned on these charges last night and remanded without bail,” the statement added.
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