Johnson, Macron and Albanese react to Salman Rushdie’s attack: World leaders respond to Salman Rushdie’s stab

“[For] For 33 years, Salman Rushdie embodies freedom and the fight against obscurity. He was both the victim of a cowardly attack by the forces of hatred and barbarism. His fight is ours; it is universal. Now, more than ever, we are on his side,” Macron said.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also condemned the attack, calling it “sick and cowardly.”

“This senseless violence against a famous author is also an attack on freedom of expression globally and deserves clear condemnation. May he make a full recovery,” Albanese added.

The 75-year-old novelist – the son of a successful Muslim businessman in India – was educated in England, first at Rugby School and then at Cambridge University, where he received a Master’s degree in history.

He then spent a decade under British protection after his fourth novel, “Verses of Satan”, prompted Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to issue a decree. religious orders, or fatwa, calling for his death.

The bounty against Rushdie was never lifted, however in 1998 the Iranian government sought to distance itself from Fatwa by pledging not to seek it.

But in February 2017, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reaffirmed the religious decree.

And in 2019, Khamenei tweeted that Khomeini’s match against Rushdie was “definite and unchangeable”, prompting Twitter to place restrictions on his account.

German-Iranian politician Bijan Djir-Sarai blamed the Iranian government for the attack, saying in a tweet on Friday: “The regime of Iran’s mullahs is also responsible for the cowardly attack. This. Anyone who wants to have normal relations with this regime should know this.”

The suspect in the attack has been identified as Hadi Matar from Fairview, New Jersey. There has not been any official response from Iran to the attack yet.

However, several hardline Iranian newspapers heaped praise on Matar on Saturday, including Kayhan newspaper, which Khamenei is editor-in-chief, Reuters reported.

According to Reuters, “One thousand bravos … for the brave and loyal man who attacked the apostate and evil Salman Rushdie in New York”, according to Reuters, adding: “The man’s hand was To tear the throats of God’s enemies must be kissed.”

The news shocked authors from across South Asia and the diaspora, including Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen, who said she was “shocked” by the news.

“I never thought it would happen. He lives in the West, and he’s been protected since 1989,” said Nasreen, who is best known for his works on oppression of women and has been banned for one year. number of books in Bangladesh, said.

“If he was attacked, anyone who criticizes Islam could be attacked. I’m worried,” she said.

Aatish Taseer, a British-American writer and journalist whose Overseas Indian Citizenship (OCI) card – a form of permanent residency for people of Indian descent – was revoked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019, says that he was “devastated by the news.

“Devastating by the news of @SalmanRushdie. He is the first writer I have ever met and his determination to defend his (and others’) freedoms against religious extremism has been an inspiration. I know he’ll be fine,” said Taseer.

American writers and organizations were also reeling from the attack. Rushdie has lived in the United States in recent years.

The PEN American Press Freedom group said in a statement Friday that the organization was “spinned with shock and horror” following Friday’s attack.

“We cannot think of an overt attack against a writer on American soil,” said CEO Suzanne Nossel.

Nossel said: “Salman Rushdie has been targeted for his words for decades but has never faltered or faltered. “He has devoted his tireless energy to supporting vulnerable and threatened people.”

Nossel also said that hours before the attack, Rushdie emailed her asking for help in finding safe havens for “Ukrainian writers in need of safe haven from serious dangers.” importance they have to face.”