• Contact Us
  • Login
Subscribe
LittleAfrica News
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mona Davids, Founder and Publisher
    • Mymoena Kalinisan-Davids, Director of Communications and Editor-in-Chief
  • Newspaper Editions
  • Education
  • Metro
  • Africa
  • Caribbean
  • U.S.
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mona Davids, Founder and Publisher
    • Mymoena Kalinisan-Davids, Director of Communications and Editor-in-Chief
  • Newspaper Editions
  • Education
  • Metro
  • Africa
  • Caribbean
  • U.S.
No Result
View All Result
LittleAfrica News
No Result
View All Result
Home Metro

Critically Acclaimed Author Salman Rushdie Attacked and Stabbed in Chautauqua, New York

LittleAfrica Staff Writer by LittleAfrica Staff Writer
August 16, 2022
in Metro

Hadi Matar at court hearing.

125
SHARES
507
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Critically Acclaimed Author Salman Rushdie Attacked and Stabbed in Chautauqua, New York

Salman Rushdie, the 75-year-old critically acclaimed author, was attacked and stabbed in Chautauqua, New York. The attack took place on the morning of Friday, August 12th.

Rushdie was getting ready to give a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution when he was attacked by 24-year-old Hadi Matar of Fairview, New Jersey. Rushdie was stabbed several times in the neck and abdomen before members of the audience restrained his attacker. 

According to witnesses, Matar appeared to be extremely angry and had to be restrained by at least five people. A doctor in the audience administered First Aid to Rushdie before he was rushed to a medical facility by helicopter.

According to reports, the author was immediately placed under surgery for hours. Rushdie’s agent, Andrew Wylie, confirmed that his client had been seriously injured, was on a ventilator, and could not speak.

“The news is not good,” Mr. Wylie said. “Salman will likely lose one eye; the nerves in his arm were severed; his liver was stabbed and damaged.” Rushdie had long been the subject of death threats for his novel, The Satanic Verses, and unconfirmed speculation suggests this attack may have been due to that.  

Rushdie is a successful author who has published several books to his name. His first novel, Grimus, was not a massive success but it had critics proclaiming Rushdie had the potential to become a great writer. His second novel, Midnight’s Children, took five years to write and was such a success that he won the Booker Prize in 1981.

Rushdie’s life changed for the worse after he wrote what was his fourth novel, The Satanic Verses. The novel, published in 1988, was a huge success but was seen by some Muslims as blasphemous. The book was deemed blasphemous as it referred to supposed verses of the Koran that were allegedly removed.

The Muslims who were displeased with the book also claimed it depicted the founder of Islam, Muhammed, in a disrespectful light. This led to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, issuing a fatwa (religious decree) that Rushdie and all those involved in the publishing of the book be killed. 

 Still on the attack and stabbing of Salman Rushdie…

This led to several controversial incidents. Rushdie, fearing for his life, was forced to live in hiding for over a decade. The Satanic Verses were banned in several countries including India, Pakistan, Sudan, and South Africa.

The book sparked protests in several countries, with some of these protests leading to the deaths of many people. In July 1991, the Japanese translator of the book, Hitoshi Igarashi was stabbed to death. Two other attacks followed, with Italian translator Ettore Capriolo attacked in Milan. He survived the attack.

The Norwegian publisher of the book Willaim Nygaard was shot three times outside his home in Oslo and also survived the attempt on his life. Time has moved forward; the Iranian government has distanced itself from the fatwa but it remains active. Rushdie himself came out of hiding and has been living in New York, leading a seemingly normal public life. The attack against him drew several reactions from all over the world. 

 “I’m utterly horrified by the cowardly attack on Salman Rushdie. I pray for his recovery. He is an essential voice and cannot be silenced,” said fellow author Khaled Hosseini. 

“I don’t know why this happened to Salman Rushdie or actually WHAT happened. But it brings back the memory of terrible days and years when-if you were a writer-you could be condemned to DEATH…for a book. For a book…” exclaimed playwright Bonnie Greer. 

Not all words directed at Rushdie were of support. Some people still believed that he should die for The Satanic Verses. 

“This deserves congratulation: God willing, we will celebrate Salman Rushdie going to hell soon,” Keyvan Saedy, an Iranian pundit wrote on Twitter. It appears the issue with The Satanic Verses is still relevant in 2022. 

Police indicated that at the moment of writing, no clear motive for the attack against Rushdie had been discovered. It is believed that the suspect, Hadi Matar, was acting alone. According to reports, local police are working with the FBI in the investigation. It appears his home was also searched. 

Related

Previous Post

New York State of Crime

Next Post

New York Health Officials Send Polio Warning!

LittleAfrica Staff Writer

LittleAfrica Staff Writer

Related Posts

Mayor Adams Suspends Right-To-Shelter Ahead of Title 42 Expiration
Metro

Mayor Adams Finally Admits New York’s Right-To-Shelter Doesn’t Apply to Migrants

by LittleAfrica Staff Writer
September 29, 2023
704
Exclusive Interview with NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks
Metro

Exclusive Interview with NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks

by Mona Davids
September 28, 2023
845
Successful Inaugural USA-Caribbean Investment Forum
Metro

Successful Inaugural USA-Caribbean Investment Forum

by LittleAfrica Staff Writer
September 28, 2023
1.1k
NYC Judge Says Right-to-Shelter Does Not Apply to Migrants
Metro

NYC Judge Says Right-to-Shelter Does Not Apply to Migrants

by LittleAfrica News Staff Writer
September 28, 2023
1k
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley Addresses UN General Assembly
Metro

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley Addresses UN General Assembly

by LittleAfrica Staff Writer
September 28, 2023
647
Next Post
New Case of Polio Detected in the US

New York Health Officials Send Polio Warning!

Translate

LittleAfrica News Newspaper : September 5  — September 11
Metro

LittleAfrica News Newspaper : September 5 — September 11

LittleAfrica News Newspaper : September 5 — September 11

September 4, 2023
LittleAfrica News Newspaper : September 12 — September 18
Metro

LittleAfrica News Newspaper : September 12 — September 18

LittleAfrica News Newspaper: September 12—18 Click here to watch the full interview with Mayor Eric Adams

September 11, 2023
LittleAfrica News Newspaper : September 26 — October 2
Metro

LittleAfrica News Newspaper : September 26 — October 2

LittleAfrica News Newspaper: September 26 — October 2

September 25, 2023

Local, National, and International News for the Diaspora

BOMESI - Black Owned Media Equity and Sustainability Institute

Recent Posts

  • Mayor Adams Finally Admits New York’s Right-To-Shelter Doesn’t Apply to Migrants
  • Exclusive Interview with NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks
  • Buzz Begins as Barbados Food and Rum Festival Returns in October
  • Successful Inaugural USA-Caribbean Investment Forum
  • NYC Judge Says Right-to-Shelter Does Not Apply to Migrants

Menu

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Mona Davids, Founder and Publisher
    • Mymoena Kalinisan-Davids, Director of Communications and Editor-in-Chief
  • Newspaper Editions
  • Education
  • Metro
  • Africa
  • Caribbean
  • U.S.

© 2023 LittleAfrica News. A Project of Social Impact Strategies. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Letters to the Editor
  • LittleAfrica News Newspaper : March 1 – March 15
  • LittleAfrica News Newspaper Print Edition : February 16 – February 28
  • Mona Davids, Founder and Publisher
  • Mymoena Kalinisan-Davids, Director of Communications and Editor-in-Chief
  • Newspaper Digital Editions
  • Pricing
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

© 2023 LittleAfrica News. A Project of Social Impact Strategies. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?