Salman Rushdie brought attack on himself, says Iran

Sir Salman Rushdie brought a stabbing attack that left him with “life-changing” injuries on himself, Iran has said.

The country’s foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said on Monday that “Salman Rushdie and his supporters are to blame for what happened to him”.

He added: “Freedom of speech does not justify Salman Rushdie’s insults upon religion and offence of its sanctities.”

Iran has no other information about Rushdie’s assailant except what has appeared in media, Mr Kanaani said.

The author, 75, was attacked on stage before a speech in New York state on Friday. He underwent hours of surgery in hospital and was taken off a ventilator on Saturday.

The suspect, Hadi Matar, 24, has denied attempted murder.

Sir Salman spent nearly a decade in hiding after the publication in 1988 of his work The Satanic Verses, which some Muslims consider to be blasphemous.

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A fatwa, or religious edict, calling on Muslims to kill him was issued by Ayatollah Khomeini, the Iranian leader, a year later.

It has been reported that the religious leader had never read Sir Salman’s book.

While such edicts can be revoked, Khomeini’s successor Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said later in 1989 that the decision about Sir Salman had been fired like a “bullet” that would “one day sooner or later hit the target.”

He confirmed that the fatwa was still in effect as recently as 2017.

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Sir Salman in ‘critical condition’ but off ventilator

Zafar Rushdie said his father remained in a “critical condition” but was taken off a ventilator on Saturday.

“Though his life-changing injuries are severe, his usual feisty and defiant sense of humour remains intact,” he said in a statement.

Sir Salman was stabbed about 12 times, including in the face and neck, the Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office said.

One of the wounds in the facial area caused a puncture to his eye. Another, to the abdomen, caused a puncture of the author’s liver.

There were also stab wounds to other areas of the abdomen and chest area.

Following the attack on Friday, my father remains in critical condition in hospital receiving extensive ongoing medical treatment.

We are extremely relieved that yesterday he was taken off the ventilator and additional oxygen and he was able to say a few words.

Though his life changing injuries are severe, his usual feisty & defiant sense of humour remains intact.

We are so grateful to all the audience members who bravely leapt to his defence and administered first aid along with the police and doctors who have cared for him and for the outpouring of love and support from around the world.

We ask for continued patience and privacy as the family come together at his bedside to support and help him through this time.

Earlier on Sunday, in an update on his condition, his literary agent, Andrew Wylie, confirmed Sir Salman had been taken off the ventilator, saying: “The road to recovery has begun.

“It will be long; the injuries are severe, but his condition is headed in the right direction.”

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