Indo-British author Salman Rushdie is on the mend after last Friday's knife attack. This has now been confirmed by his son Zafar Rushdie via Twitter in a family statement. The relatives are very relieved that Rushdie has not had to be ventilated since the weekend. However, his father's condition remains critical. The media reported on Sunday that the writer was no longer connected to a ventilator and had spoken his first words again.
Zafar Rushdie also revealed that his father's "usual combative and defiant sense of humor" remained intact. Rushdie is in a Pennsylvania hospital with serious injuries. The attack on him occurred on the open stage at a literary event in Chautauqua, New York. According to police, the writer sustained stab wounds to his neck and chest. His agent said Rushdie will "probably lose an eye." In addition, the nerves in his arm were severed, "his liver was punctured and damaged."
Suspect pleads not guilty
Police have identified and arrested a 24-year-old New Jersey suspect. According to consistent media reports, the man pleaded not guilty at a brief court hearing on Saturday. He is charged with attempted murder and assault. The police have not yet commented on a possible motive, the investigation is ongoing.
The attack could, however, be related to a work by the author. Rushdie lived in hiding for years and was under police protection. In 1989, the Iranian revolutionary leader Ruhollah Khomeini issued a so-called fatwa in which he demanded Rushdie's death because of his book "The Satanic Verses" and offered a large reward for killing Rushdie.
Numerous western politicians condemned the knife attack, including US President Joe Biden. In a statement, he described the incident as a "malicious attack". Rushdie stands for "essential universal ideals", including truth, courage and resilience. The author has "the ability to share ideas without fear". These are "the building blocks of any free and open society," Biden said.
