Author Salman Rushdie reportedly stabbed before New York speech Rushdie's current condition is unknown By Andrew Mark Miller | Fox News
Novelist Salman Rushdie was reportedly stabbed before giving a speech in Chautauqua, New York.
An Associated Press reporter witnessed a man storm the stage at the Chautauqua Institution and begin punching or stabbing Rushdie as he was being introduced. The author was taken or fell to the floor, and the man was restrained.
Rushdie’s book "The Satanic Verses" has been banned in Iran since 1988, as many Muslims consider it to be blasphemous. A year later, Iran’s late leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa, or edict, calling for Rushdie’s death.
Iran has also offered over $3 million in reward for anyone who kills Rushdie.
Author Salman Rushdie, behind screen left, is tended to after he was attacked during a lecture on Friday, Aug. 12, at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, N.Y.
"Just witnessed the horrific assassination attempt on #SalmanRushdie's life. He was stabbed multiple times before attacker was subdued by security," author Carl Levan tweeted shortly after the stabbing. "Some intrepid members of audience went on stage. What courage will be expected of us next to defend even the smallest freedoms?"
Iran’s government has long since distanced itself from Khomeini’s decree, but anti-Rushdie sentiment lingered. In 2012, a semi-official Iranian religious foundation raised the bounty for Rushdie from $2.8 million to $3.3 million.
Rushdie dismissed that threat at the time, saying there was "no evidence" of people being interested in the reward.
That year, Rushdie published a memoir, "Joseph Anton," about the fatwa.
My concern is for Ann Heche Liberal Socialist Democrat actress drunk driving doing a smash up derby. Roasting herself in her car like hotdog and brain wave flat lineing right now...
Police name suspect who stabbed Salman Rushdie up to 15 times as 24-year-old from New Jersey: Author remains in surgery after being airlifted to hospital 33 years after Iran issued fatwah on him for novel The Satanic Verses Salman Rushdie, 75, has been airlifted to hospital after being stabbed up to 15 times, including once in the neck He was attacked by Hadi Matar, 24, who rushed the stage before 'punching and stabbing' the author multiple times in front of horrified witnesses at a literary fair in Chautauqua, New York, near Buffalo Those attending the event quickly pinned down his attacker, with New York State Police confirming a man had been arrested
Rushdie on ventilator and may lose an eye, agent says Salman Rushdie is on a ventilator, unable to speak, and may lose an eye, his agent told Reuters and the New York Times.
“The news is not good,” Andrew Wylie, Rushdie’s agent, said Friday evening. “Salman will likely lose one eye; the nerves in his arm were severed; and his liver was stabbed and damaged.”
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