Salman Rushdie, the author of the controversial ‘Satanic Verses’, was stabbed on the lecture stage during an event in New York.
The author’s controversial written ideas have led to death threats previously and his book, ‘Satanic Verses’, was banned from Iran in the 1980s. He was attacked on Friday, 12th August as he was about to give a lecture in New York.
As Rushdie was being introduced, an Associated Press reporter saw a man attack the stage at the Chautauqua Institution. He started punching or stabbing Rushdie. The 75-year-old novelist was shoved or knocked to the ground and restrained. The man responsible for his condition was restrained.
“We can confirm that there was a stabbing”: Sherriff
Without giving many details about the case, the area’s sheriff told AFP that “we can confirm there was a stabbing.”
A small group of people surrounded the author and held up his legs. It was presumably to send more blood to his chest. However, his condition could not initially be known.
Hundreds of people gasped, shaken by the turn of events as they had just entered and were seated in the hall to attend a lecture by Salman Rushdie. The audience was then immediately evacuated.
The Anti-Rushdie sentiments
Iran has outlawed Rushdie’s “The Satanic Verses” since 1988 because many Muslims view it as disrespectful. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the late president of Iran, called for Rushdie’s execution in a fatwa, or decree, that was published a year later. A bounty of more than $3 million was offered to anyone who killed Rushdie.
While Iran’s government has found itself distancing from Khomeini and his decree, sentiments against Rushdie stayed. Moreover, a semi-official Iranian religious foundation took things a step further by raising the decree to $3 million in 2012.
At the time, Rushdie did not think too much of the threat and dismissed it by saying that there was “no evidence” that people were interested in the reward.
Salman Rushdie received the honorary title of “Sir” in 2007 after being knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions to literature. He has written more than a dozen works, some of which are nonfiction. While in hiding after the issuance of the fatwa against him, Rushdie used a pseudonym, “Joseph Anton”. Later on, he published his memoir with the pseudonym as the title, detailing his experience with the fatwa.
The Chautauqua Institution is well-known for its summer lecture series. It is located about 55 miles southwest of Buffalo in a rural area of New York. Rushdie has previously spoken there.
