‘Strike on the freedom our world relies upon’

SHOCK OVER RUSHDIE ATTACK

- Mike Parker and Marco Giannangeli

THE attack on Sir Salman Rushdie has been condemned as “a strike on the freedom of expression that our world relies on”.

As writers and politicians joined a growing chorus of outrage, Harry Potter writer JK Rowling received a death threat yesterday from an Islamic extremist, who chillingly told her “you are next”.

Author Sir Salman, 75, remains on a ventilator, cannot speak and may lose an eye.

His alleged attacker, Hadi Matar, 24, was remanded in custody last night without bail after being charged with attempted murder and assault at the New York literary event.

Literary agent Andrew Wylie said Sir Salman, who was airlifted to hospital in Erie, Pennsylvania, said: “Salman will likely lose one eye, the nerves in his arm are severed, his liver was stabbed and damaged.”

US-born Matar, who has Lebanese parents, is reportedly a supporter of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and the Iran-backed Lebanese terror group Hezbollah.

The Satanic Verses author was on stage at the Chautauqua Institution, near Buffalo, in New York State, for a lecture on artistic free expression when Matar stabbed him “10 or 15 times” in the neck and abdomen.

Blood spattered the stage seconds after Matar – clad in black and wearing a black mask – rushed at Rushdie.

Following the stabbing on Friday, many influential figures rallied to defend the freedom of expression championed by Indian-born British writer Sir Salman, including JK Rowling.

She tweeted: “Horrifying news. Feeling very sick right now. Let him be OK.”