Rabat – Indian-born novelist Salman Rushdie is on a ventilator and is unable to speak, his agent said after the author was stabbed at a New York event.
Andrew Wylie, Rushdie’s agent, said the 75-year-old author may end up losing an eye as a result. “Salman will likely lose one eye the nerves in his arm were severed and his liver was stabbed and damaged,” he said
New York police said the 24-year-old suspect ran onto the stage and stabbed Rushdie at least once in the neck and the abdomen, after which the novelist was taken to the hospital by helicopter.
Rushdie was given first aid by a doctor who was a member of the audience, police said.
Henry Reese, who was interviewing Rushdie on stage, suffered a minor head injury and was also taken to the hospital.
The stage was rushed by audience members to take the attacker to the ground. Police apprehended the suspect, but did not confirm a motive or any charges.
Rushdie’s 1988 novel, “The Satanic Verses,” proved to be controversial among Muslims, forcing the author into hiding for nearly 10 years after receiving numerous death threats.
The novel, which some countries went as far as banning, was accused of being blasphemous and insulting to Islam.
In 1991, a Japanese translator of the book was stabbed to death. That same year, an Italian translator was also stabbed and the novel’s Norwegian publisher was shot, although both survived.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini called for Rushdie’s execution one year after the book’s release, placing a $3 million bounty on him. There has been no reaction from any Iranian officials to the stabbing.
Rushdie, who is a British-American citizen from a non-practicing Muslim family, identifies as an atheist. He has become a vocal advocate of free speech, citing the death threats he’s been receiving for the past 30 years because of his book.
