The famous writer, who holds American citizenship and resides in New York, received an honorary award from the “Ban America” association for the defense of freedom of expression and literature, of which he was president in the past.
British writer Salman Rushdie appeared publicly on Thursday evening in New York for the first time since he was nearly killed nine months ago in a knife attack in the United States when he participated in a party held by an organization to defend writers.
The famous writer, who holds American citizenship and resides in New York, received an honorary award from the “Ban America” association for the defense of freedom of expression and literature, of which he was president in the past.
Rushdie, 75, stood on the red carpet in front of the photographers, wearing black glasses, one of whose lenses were black, after he was injured in the attack in his right eye, before joining the party that was held at the American Museum of Natural History near Central Park in Manhattan.
The Indian writer was affected when he delivered a speech to the 700 invited to the party.
Rushdi said that “Ban America” today is “more important” than ever, according to a statement issued by the association. “We must not be intimidated by terrorism,” he said in French, Spanish and English. “We must not be deterred by violence. The struggle continues.”
Rushdie was seriously injured when he participated on August 12 in a conference in Chautauqua, upstate New York, as a result of a knife attack carried out by a young man who rushed towards him while the writer was about to give a speech.
His agent, Andrew Wylie, announced in October that Rushdie had lost the sight in one eye and lost the use of one hand.
The attack shocked the West, but on the other hand, it was praised by hardliners in Islamic countries such as Iran and Pakistan.
The writer has been living since 1989 under the threat of a fatwa issued by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran at the time, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, following the publication of his novel “The Satanic Verses”.
