Salman Rushdie has lost sight in one eye and use of hand after stabbing, says agent | World News

Author Sir Salman Rushdie has lost an eye and uses one hand after he was stabbed on stage, his agent has revealed.

The Indian-British writer, who faced death threats for his novel Verses of the Devil, has attack in August as he was about to give a presentation in New York State.

He was stabbed about 12 times, including in the face and neck, but the full extent of his injuries has so far been unclear.

In an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Pais, Mr. Salman’s Literary agent Andrew Wyle said the 75-year-old’s injuries were “profound” and he had “lost an eye”.

Mr Wylie said: “He had three serious injuries to his neck.

“One hand was incapacitated because the nerves in his arm had been cut. And he had about 15 more injuries to his chest and torso. So it was a brutal attack. “

Mr Wylie declined to say whether Sir Salman was still in hospital, saying he could not provide any information about his whereabouts.

“He will live…that’s more important,” he added.

Sir Salman spent nearly a decade in hiding after publishing in 1988 his Verses of Satan, which some Muslims consider blasphemous.

A year later, Ayatollah Khomeini, the leader of Iran, issued a religious decree calling on Muslims to kill him.

Mr Wylie said an attack was “probably something that Salman and I have discussed in the past”.

“The main danger he faced in the years after the fatwa was imposed was from a random person who appeared out of nowhere and attacked [him]”, said the representative.

“So you can’t protect from that because it’s completely unexpected and illogical. It’s like John Lennon’s murder.”

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Following the attack on Sir Salman, Iran’s foreign ministry said the author “and his supporters must be held accountable for what happened to him”.

The man accused of stabbing Sir Salman was plead not guilty to attempt murder and allege assault.

Hadi Matar, 24, is being held pending trial.