The stabbing of controversial author Sir Salman Rushdie has been described as “an attack on freedom of thought and expression”.
The 75 year old man stay on a fan after being airlifted to hospital and undergoing hours of surgery following the attack in New York state.
And messages of support are pouring in for the British author of Indian origin.
Novelist Ian McEwan said: “This appalling attack on my dear friend Salman represents an attack on freedom of thought and expression.
“These are the freedoms that underpin all of our rights and freedoms. Salman has been an inspiring advocate for persecuted writers and journalists around the world.”
Read more:
Why is Salman Rushdie so controversial?
Norwegian William Nygaard, who was shot and seriously injured in 1993 after publishing Sir Salman’s work, said: ‘He is a leading author who meant so much to literature and he had found a good life in the USA.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted: “Shocked and appalled to learn of the unprovoked and senseless attack on Sir Salman Rushdie.
“Freedom of expression is a value we hold dear and attempts to undermine it must not be tolerated. My heart goes out to Sir Salman and his family.”
Boris Johnson said: “Appalled that Sir Salman Rushdie was stabbed while exercising a right that we should never stop defending.
“We all hope he’s okay.”
Comedian and author David Baddiel tweeted: “It’s appalling what happened to Salman Rushdie. It’s also appalling that there are people who will think he caused it himself or that he somehow deserved it.”
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said: “Today the country and the world witnessed a reprehensible attack on writer Salman Rushdie. This act of violence is appalling.
“All of us in the Biden-Harris administration are praying for his speedy recovery. We are grateful to the good citizens and first responders for helping Mr. Rushdie so quickly after the attack and to law enforcement for their quick work. and effective, which continues.”
And Suzanne Nossel, of free speech group Pen America, said: “While we don’t know the origins or motives of this attack, anyone around the world who has encountered violent words or called for the same are guilty of legitimizing this attack on a writer while he was engaged in his essential work of connecting to readers.”
