Rushdie’s work earned him death threats from the Iranian government and the ire of Muslims around the world in the 1980s, because of his anti-Islam book “The Satanic Verses,” which was banned by Iran in 1988.
UPDATE! (NY Post) The man arrested in Friday’s stabbing of famed novelist Salman Rushdie was identified by police as Hadi Matar, 24, of Fairview, New Jersey New Jersey man, who law enforcement sources tell The Post he had sympathies toward the Iranian government that has called for Rushdie’s death.
Matar was arrested after he stormed the stage at the Chautauqua Institution in Western New York and allegedly stabbed the author multiple times, New York State Police said Friday. An Associated Press reporter witnessed the attacker confront Rushdie on stage at the Chautauqua Institution and punch and stab him 10 to 15 times as he was being introduced.
Rushdie suffered stab wounds to the neck and abdomen, and remained in surgery at a nearby trauma center Friday evening, according to police. Dr. Martin Haskell, a physician who was among those who rushed to help, described Rushdie’s wounds as “serious but recoverable.”
Law enforcement sources told The Post that an initial investigation suggests Matar has made social media posts in support of Iran and its Revolutionary Guard, and in support of Shi’a extremism more broadly.
New York State Police, however, said that Matar’s motive remained unclear.
FOX News Author Salman Rushdie was attacked at a literary event in upstate New York Friday, when an assailant stormed the stage soon after his introduction. The man proceeded to stab Rushdie, who was scheduled to talk at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, N.Y., some 75 miles south of Buffalo.
An Associated Press reporter witnessed a man storm the stage at the Chautauqua Institution and begin stabbing Rushdie as he was being introduced. The author was taken or fell to the floor, and the man was restrained.
A witness, Ward Pautler, told The Daily Beast that Rushdie had just come out on stage when a man who was “heavy set and wearing a black headpiece (Islamic?)” rushed the stage.
Rushdie’s book “The Satanic Verses” has been banned in Iran since 1988, as many Muslims consider it to be blasphemous. A year later, Iran’s late leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa, or edict, calling for Rushdie’s death. Iran also offered over $3 million in reward for anyone who kills Rushdie.
In 2015, Rushdie addressed the killings by Muslims of 12 people at the Paris satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, saying the right to free speech is absolute or else it isn’t free.
UPDATE 2 (NY POST) Author Salman Rushdie is likely to lose one of his eyes and is currently on a ventilator after he was attacked on stage at a literary event in upstate New York on Friday, a report said.
“The news is not good,” the 75-year-old writer’s agent, Andrew Wylie, told The New York Times.
“Salman will likely lose one eye; the nerves in his arm were severed; and his liver was stabbed and damaged,” said Wylie.
UPDATE 3 (Daily Mail) The man accused of stabbing author Salman Rushdie held a fake driver’s license bearing the surname of an infamous Hezbollah commander, it has been claimed.
That driver’s license, which was was found on 24-year-old Hadi Mater bore the name Hassan Mughniyah. Both the first and second names are linked to infamous terrorist organization Hezbollah. The group’s current leader is named Hassan Nasrallah. While one of the group’s most notorious figures was Imad Mughniyeh, who was killed in a CIA-linked assassination in Syria in 2008.
Thirteen One of Salman Rushdie’s books, “Joseph Anton,” is a memoir of living under threat of death for writing the novel, “The Satanic Verses,” in which Rushdie used narrative elements from Islam. For that perceived blasphemy, on Feb. 14, 1989, Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini called for the execution of Rushdie and anyone responsible for publishing the book.
Rushdie survived unscathed and the “fatwa” ordering his death was ended by the Iranian government in 1998, but his days in hiding were marked by violence. In 1989, bookstores carrying his novel were firebombed and in 1991, Rushdie’s Italian and Japanese translators were stabbed within weeks of each other — the latter died. In 1993, Rushdie’s Norwegian publisher was shot and seriously wounded.
In America, publishers and book sellers flinched at the fatwa immediately. Major book chains B. Dalton and Barnes & Noble pulled “Satanic Verses” from the shelves citing fear for employee safety, and many independent bookstores bravely stood their ground for principles of freedom, as was the case for Paperbacks Plus in the Riverdale section of the Bronx.
The Riverdale Press covered Paperbacks Plus’s decision to carry Rushdie’s novel in an editorial that supported the public’s right to read the work. After the editorial came out, the weekly paper’s office was firebombed and completely destroyed early in the morning of Feb. 28, 1989.
Me says
Good news everyone!
Author Salman Rushdie has been taken off a ventilator and is able to talk again, a day after being stabbed.
BareNakedIslam says
Great! So happy to hear the good news 🫡
Az gal says
Muslums have been salivating for his head a long time. At his age, it would be hard to recover from such an assault. He may appear to heal, but pass within a year or so. Hopefully not.
BareNakedIslam says
The Iranians are cheering.
ADHD says
Most if not ALL Moslems (both Sunni and Shi’a) are cheering, MOST unfortunately!!!!!
I’ve had to restrict myself much of the time as the negativism has been getting to me (not only your Website but MANY others!!!). However, dear Bonni, please know that I’m cheering you on as much as ever – God Bless you for the absolutely-CRITICAL work you’ve been doing to bring the EVIL and ATROCITIES of the “cult” and “religion” of Islam to the light. That BENIGHTED ideology, coupled with that of HUMANISM (of which Marxism is a branch, with Communism, Fascism and Nazism being ITS fruit in turn!!!!) are the twin MONSTERS that most truly CAN destroy ALL – repeat, ALL – life on this planet. This applies both to the weapons those arch-DÆMONS can dispose of in addition to how they can make ALL human life under their dictatorships virtually unbearable…
[Even before Marxism came into being, Humanism already had the same evils in itself (notably via its “Enlightenment”): just look at the French Revolution and ITS principal figures (Louis Antoine de Saint-Just, Jean-Paul Marat and Maximilien Robespierre!!!!) plus their and their colleagues’ deeds…]
God Grant that Mr. Rushdie will confound ALL expectations and make a TOTAL recovery (including his arm and eyes) such as to totally SPITE all of Islam EVERYWHERE – and LIVE more than long enough to really rub the salt into the “wounds” of ALL Moslems, period!!!!! Also, may God Almighty PUNISH all totalitarians (including Biden, Trudeau, Ardern, Macron) and ALL their colleagues, friends and family as they deserve!!!!!
BareNakedIslam says
Welcome back ADHD, long time no see. We’ve missed you.
Classy Infidel says
I am certain muslims everywhere are deligted that, finally, a muslim got him. The guy was in a frenzy of rage.
“That driver’s license, which was was found on 24-year-old Hadi Mater bore the name Hassan Mughniyah. Both the first and second names are linked to infamous terrorist organization Hezbollah. The group’s current leader is named Hassan Nasrallah.”
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11108131/Shocking-video-seconds-Salman-Rushide-stabbed-shows-audience-rush-help-attack.html
boudicaus says
Ban Islam!
David Grisez says
It is a known fact that the late Ayatollah Khomeini issued a Death Fatwa against Salman Rushdie years ago because he wrote a book called The Satanic verses which offended Ayatollah Khomeini. And this Muslim named Hadi Matar believed that he had to obey and carry out this death fatwa. Islam is an evil and wicked ideology with its non-stop terrorist attacks against non-muslims, its teachings that Muslims must fight jihad warfare and conquer the world with Islam. And also its Death Fatwas against non-muslims that muslim ayatollahs and imams believe have blasphemed Islam.
Donovan Nuera says
And nobody in the audience was astute enough to at least shout a simple ’ head’s up warning to Rushdie when this obvious out of place young jihadi was briskly walking up the aisle???? Grrr!!
Jack Rider says
There is no difference between Putin sending GRU agents into the UK to poison opponents with nunchok & Iran trying to hire killers to murder Bolton and Pompeo and this Shia terrorist acting on an Ayatollah’s fatwa. These are all acts in violation of other nation’s sovereignty for political/religious reasons. Each is an act of war.
Me says
Update from the BBC at 01:00GMT
Salman Rushdie’s agent has said “the news is not good” after the author was stabbed at an event in New York state.
He was attacked on stage, and is now on a ventilator and unable to speak, Andrew Wylie said in a statement, adding that the author will lose one eye.
VMS says
“The news is not good,” Andrew Wylie, his book agent, wrote in an email. “Salman will likely lose one eye; the nerves in his arm were severed; and his liver was stabbed and damaged.”
BareNakedIslam says
Sheesh! He’s lucky to be alive. But the Muslim terrorist will probably be out of jail by tomorrow. This IS New York, after all, where criminals who are minorities get released with no bail.
canuckguynbgmailcom says
Reason prevailed, no bail granted. On another note, some commentator on the Canadian CBC stated(I just saw it this Sunday morning) that ‘the motive is not clear’. I thought commentators are suppose to be intelligent, not retarded.
BareNakedIslam says
Just parroting the talking points given to them.
Pray Hard says
And, the moslem whining has already started.
Richard S says
This muslim man should get a life sentence without parole. Attempted murder by jihadists should not be tolerated
Linda Rivera says
In the Daily Mail article on the savage attack, it was alarming that many comments declared that there was nothing good about religion.
My comments opposing this were not posted!
There is only one religion/cult that is dangerous and a huge threat to innocent humanity — ISLAM!
Az gal says
Yes, Linda. In the end, Islam makes all religions look bad.
Linda Rivera says
New York State Police, however, said that Matar’s motive remained unclear.
Instead of warning Americans of their Extreme Danger from the followers of barbarian savage warlord Mohammad and Mohammad’s DEATH GOD of DEATH, DESTRUCTION and ETERNAL DARKNESS, New York State Police and Government are desperately EAGER to protect the MURDER BLOOD CONQUEST Cult of Islam.
Conrad Calvano says
Sad that this man has been attacked 33 years after that Ayatollah issued his stinking fartwa! The media seems to be withholding the identity of the attacker, perhaps for modesty reasons in favor of the culprit! Of course, we are going to be hearing a lot about how Islam is a religion of peace, and it is only the fringe elements who go off like this! Some Muslims may even get media attention, claiming that they are under threat from non Muslims who seek to commit violence on them!
SJ says
So where can we get the book now?
BareNakedIslam says
It’s easily available here. Here’s a link to Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=The+Satanic+verses&crid=34XOHNN8C5E4X&sprefix=the+satanic+verses%2Caps%2C72&ref=nb_sb_noss_1
Tim h says
Only a aaahole like a subhuman no iq well that will be a shagging goat and sheep Muslim please someone tell cair about this so they can sue the poor little Muslim hope they make him pay up.
Pray Hard says
Nuke Iran and every moslem country on the Earth!
Crusader666 says
Unforgivable though this attack on Salman Rushdie is, the message that it sends is that “No matter who you are, or where you are, if you disagree with ANY tenet of Islam, we have the right to kill you!”
Cue politicians and social activists talking about “the religion of Peace”.
BareNakedIslam says
Check the update. We now have a name.
canuckguynbgmailcom says
Brave man. A man of principles. I am surprised he hasn’t been murdered by now, certainly not from a lack of trying.
Anette says
So sad i wounder Who would do This 🤔oh I know the proteced ones
BareNakedIslam says
Anette, just posted an update on the story. Check it out.
Diesel Strongboy says
They have the man. What is his name? I hope he is being held without bail.
BareNakedIslam says
I just found it and will post it now as an update. It’s a Muslim name.
canuckguynbgmailcom says
FFS!!. I just listened to a news reporter on a Canadian news channel(CTV) who asked if a ‘motive’ has been determined. He was told they are still investigating. What a crock of political correctness.
BareNakedIslam says
Did you see the update I just posted?
canuckguynbgmailcom says
I just saw it. Seems the police have difficulty in drawing conclusions(motive unclear)
ADHD says
This is why I virtually NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER have ANYTHING to do with the MSM (“mainstream-media”). For North America and enough else, Rebel News plus BNI jointly suffice (the former get reporters to Europe and Australia as and when needed, thank goodness!!).
Also, the name-list (I’ve never abandoned it) continues to grow – even with a size-reduction of its type, it’s now well into page 78. It’s time to update it (only a few things stand in the way including mastering FontCreator…) – hopefully that will be soon.