British Indian author Salman Rushdie was attacked on stage by a man as he was about to give a lecture in western New York.
Who is Salman Rushdie?
Salman Rushdie is an Indian-born writer whose novels examine historical and philosophical issues by means of surreal characters, brooding humour, and an effusive and melodramatic prose style.
The British-American citizen who was born to non-practising Muslims and is an atheist himself has become a vocal advocate for freedom of expression.
Famous novels- Grimus, Midnight’s Children, Shame, The Satanic Verses, Quichotte, Languages of Truth: Essays 2003–2020.
Rushdie received the Booker Prize in 1981 for Midnight’s Children which subsequently won the Booker of Bookers (1993) and the Best of the Booker (2008).
Mr. Rushdie was knighted in 2007 by the Queen.
His next novel, Victory City, is due to be published in February 2023.
What is the issue with his book “The Satanic Verses”?
The Satanic Verses depict the Prophet Muhammad and the Quran in a manner that drew criticism from Muslim community leaders who denounced the novel as blasphemous.
Public demonstrations against the book spread to Pakistan in 1989.
The spiritual leader of revolutionary Iran, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, publicly condemned the book and issued a fatwa (legal opinion) against Rushdie.
A bounty was offered to anyone who would execute him.
He went into hiding for nine years.
In 1998, the Iranian government announced that it would no longer seek to enforce its fatwa against Rushdie.
The Satanic Verses was banned first in India.
What about the recent attack?
Recent attack- A man ran up onto the stage and attacked Mr Rushdie.
Police detained a suspect named as Hadi Matar whose social media accounts are reportedly filled with pro-Khomeini and pro-Iran content.
No motive or charges have yet been confirmed by police.
Role of Iran- Iran has denied any role but the pro-state media in Iran applauded the suspect as courageous and duty-conscious man.
Iran may not have a direct role in the attack but as the fatwa issued by the leader of its revolution has hunted down this man.
Iran has the moral responsibility, at least now when he is recovering from serious wounds, to revoke the fatwa and unequivocally condemn the attack.
