Author Salman Rushdie attacked in neck on lecture stage in New York
August 12, 2022, 8:03 pm

Author Salman Rushdie attacked in neck on lecture stage in New York

The Indian-born author Salman Rushdie - Official Twitter account

On Friday (August 12), author Salman Rushdie stabbed in the neck before giving a speech at the Chautauqua Institution in New York City.

The Indian-born author lived under the threat of his assassination for over thirty years, since an edict calling for his killing issued by the Ayatollah Khomeini in response to his book "The Satanic Verses."

The 1988 "The Satanic Verses" publication was viewed as blasphemous by many Muslims. Often-violent protests against Rushdie erupted around the world, including a riot that ended in violence, killing six protesters.

Iran’s government has long since distanced itself from Khomeini’s decree, but anti-Rushdie sentiment lingered.

In 2012, a semi-official Iranian religious foundation raised a bounty for Rushdie from $2.8 million to $3.3 million.

Rushdie dismissed that threat at the time, saying there was "no evidence" of people being interested in the reward, the Fox news reported.

The Indian-born author lived under threat of his assassination for over thirty years, since an edict calling for his killing issued by the Ayatollah Khomeini in response to his book "The Satanic Verses."

That same year, Rushdie published a memoir, "Joseph Anton," about the fatwa, it said.

Over the years, Rushdie has been an outspoken supporter of the freedom of expression and has endured death threats that at one time caused him to go into hiding with round-the-clock security.

Sweden warns citizens against travel to Iran after trial of Iranian official ends

"It is free speech that makes it possible for us to be free people. Unfortunately, there are those who wish us not to be free, who would rather use the assassin’s veto to compel belief and silence dissent," The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression told Fox News Digital in a statement following the attack on Rushdie.

"Mr. Rushdie has long understood free speech’s necessity. He is among its strongest advocates: "Free speech is the whole thing, the whole ball game."

Mike Pompeo: Iran’s Qasem Soleimani killed to stop plot against 500 Americans

It is worthy to noted that Rushdie's attacker has not yet been identified and the status on his condition is not immediately clear but reports from the scene state that he was alive and breathing without needing CPR as he was airlifted to a nearby hospital.

levantnews-foxnews

Syrian state media: Israeli shelling wounds 2 near Golan Heights London Specialist Dentists: A leading clinic in art and science of dentistry

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”