Iran claims that Sir Salman Rushdie was the victim of a stabbing attack, which left him with “life-changing” injuries.
Nasser Kanaani, the spokesperson for the country’s foreign ministry, stated Monday that Salman Rushdie and his followers are responsible for what happened to him.
He said, “Freedom to speak does not justify Salman Rushdie’s insults on religion and offence towards its sanctities.”
Iran does not have any other information on Rushdie’s attacker, except what is reported in media, Mr Kanaani stated.
The 75-year-old author was attacked before a speech in New York on Friday. After hours of hospitalization, he was removed from a ventilator Saturday.
Hadi Matar (24 ) is the suspect. He has denied trying to murder.
Sir Salman spent almost a decade hiding after 1988’s publication of The Satanic Verses. Some Muslims considered it blasphemous.
A year later, Ayatollah Khameni, the Iranian leader, issued a fatwa or religious edict calling for Muslims to kill him.
According to some reports, the religious leader never had read Sir Salman’s book.
Although such edicts may be revoked by Khomeini, the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Al Khamenei later stated in 1989 that Sir Salman’s decision had been made like a bullet that would “one of these days sooner or later hit target.”
He confirmed that the fatwa is still in force as of 2017.
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Sir Salman in “critical condition” but with ventilator
Zafar Rushdie stated that his father was still in “critical condition”, but was removed from a ventilator Saturday.
He said that although his life-changing injuries were severe, his feisty sense of humor and wit remained intact.”
According to the Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office, Sir Salman was stabbed 12 times. This included in his neck.
One of the cuts in his face caused him to have an eye puncture. A second, in the abdomen, punctured the author’s liver.
Stitches were also made to the chest and abdomen.
Andrew Wylie, his literary agent, gave an update on Salman’s condition on Sunday. He said that Sir Salman was now off the ventilator and that “the road to recovery” has started.
“It will take a while; his injuries are serious, but his condition appears to be improving.”