British author Salman Rushdie, who was condemned to death by Khomeini due to his novel "The Satanic Verses," was stabbed in the neck yesterday while preparing to deliver a lecture in New York. His agent stated that he has been placed on a ventilator, sparking widespread global condemnation of the attack. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned the "horrific" attack on the British author in the U.S., expressing his dismay over Rushdie being stabbed while exercising a right that we must not cease to defend, referring to freedom of expression. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed solidarity with Rushdie, emphasizing that "today, we stand by him more than ever." Macron highlighted that "for 33 years, Salman Rushdie has embodied freedom and the fight against obscurantism; his struggle is our struggle and a global struggle." Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne stated that "we have always stood by Salman Rushdie in his battle against obscurantism," adding, "tonight, we stand by him more than ever."
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his distress over the attack, stating through his spokesperson: "Words can in no way be responded to with violence." White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan described the attack on Rushdie, who was stabbed in the neck and abdomen while speaking at a lecture in New York, as horrifying. He tweeted: "We are all praying for his swift recovery. We are grateful to the citizens who rushed to help him very quickly." British Home Secretary Priti Patel expressed her shock, tweeting: "I am shocked and horrified to hear of the unprovoked and foolish attack on Sir Salman Rushdie. Freedom of expression is a value we cherish and must not tolerate attempts to undermine it. My thoughts are with Sir Salman and his family."
French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne and many ministers also shared messages of solidarity with the British author on Twitter. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna stated that "the attack on Salman Rushdie is a despicable act… Freedom of conscience and expression is essential against intolerance." French Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak condemned it as a "barbaric act," praising "33 years of courage." Additionally, French National Education Minister Pap Ndiaye commended Rushdie as a "symbol of freedom and enlightenment that no obscurantism will be able to stop."
In a similar vein, the American authors' association known as "PEN America" expressed its shock following the attack on its former president Salman Rushdie. In a statement released by current president Suzanne Nossel, the organization stated: "PEN America is horrified by the news of the intentional, brutal attack on our former president and staunch ally Salman Rushdie, who reportedly was stabbed multiple times while speaking on stage at the Chautauqua Institute in upstate New York." Nossel added: "We cannot find a comparable case of such a violent, public attack on a writer on American soil." She also noted that "Salman Rushdie has been attacked for his words for decades, but has never been deterred or shaken; he has tirelessly worked to help others who are vulnerable and threatened. PEN America was founded in New York in 1922, and Rushdie is one of its most famous members."
### Iranian Stance
In the first official Iranian response, advisor to the Iranian nuclear negotiation team, Mohammad Marandi, tweeted expressing his surprise at the timing of the attack on Rushdie coinciding with the revival of the nuclear agreement and the thwarting by Washington of an assassination attempt targeting former National Security Advisor John Bolton. He tweeted: "I will not cry for a writer who disseminates endless hatred and contempt for Muslims and Islam. A pawn of the empire pretending to be a post-colonial novelist. But isn’t it strange that as we get closer to a potential nuclear deal, the U.S. makes claims about a strike on Bolton... and then this happens?" He shared images of Rushdie, Bolton, and former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo below the tweet.
