British author Salman Rushdie appeared publicly in New York on Thursday evening for the first time since being attacked with a knife nine months ago in the United States, an incident that nearly cost him his life. He attended a gala organized by an organization defending writers. The American-British writer, who resides in New York, received an honorary award from the "PEN America" association for his defense of freedom of expression and literature, of which he was a former president.
Rushdie (75) stood on the red carpet before photographers, wearing a pair of glasses with one lens darkened due to his eye injury from the attack, before joining the gala held at the American Museum of Natural History near Central Park in Manhattan. The Indian-born writer appeared visibly affected as he delivered a speech to the 700 attendees at the event.
He stated in French, Spanish, and English: "We must not let terrorism intimidate us. We must not let violence deter us. The struggle continues." Rushdie sustained serious injuries while attending a conference in Chautauqua, New York, during a knife attack carried out by a young man who rushed at him as he was about to speak. His agent, Andrew Wylie, previously revealed that "Rushdie lost sight in one eye and lost the ability to use one hand."
Since 1989, the author has lived under the threat of a fatwa calling for his death, issued by the then Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini, following the publication of his novel "The Satanic Verses."
