When the author of The Satanic Verses was stabbed, the host, who was on stage withSalman Rushdie, said he himself was "very well". I am doing it,” he said. ' and expressed his concern for writers 'important to the world'.
In an interview with the BBC, Henry Reese said he would like to return to his Chautauqua Institution and continue the conversation with Mr. Rushdie.
Formerly Mr. Reese — co-founder of the City of Asylum, Pittsburgh, Ethiopia, Syria, Venezuela, Vietnam, El Salvador, Cuba, and Algeria — speaking at the Chautauqua Institution in New Yorksaid the organization received "great support" and that the incident "had no fear."
Protecting writers, and watching Salman Rushdie get assaulted for his life is unimaginable…explain what it's like to see it happen before your very eyes It's hard to do," he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
. He acknowledged the focus on Mr. Rushdie and confessed that the attack reminded them "how important it is to do what they are doing."
Last Friday, Mr. Rushdie, 75, was stabbed on stage, resulting in damage to his liver and severing the nerves in his arm and eye, agent Andrew said of his Wiley said. On Sunday, he said the author is "on the road to recovery."
Mr. Reese was also injured during the attack, sustaining severe bruising on the right side of his face. He was discharged from the hospital on Sunday. “I'm fine. And he is important to the world," he told the BBC
New York Times {30 In an emailed statement to }, he called Rushdie "one of the great defenders of free speech and creative expression," adding, "This attack could occur in the United States. ``The fact that there are many governments, many individuals and organizations presents a threat to writers,'' he added. It's a very bold attack on core values and ways of resolving differences without violence," Reese told The Atlantic.
Meanwhile, his 24-year-old Hadi Matar, from Fairview, New Jersey, was arrested and charged with attempted murder.
Mr Rushdie was forced into hiding in 1989 after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa [death sentence] against him. Khomeini has called on Muslims around the world to kill the Indian-born author after his book was accused of being blasphemous.
The New Yorker said and Khomeini said he had never read The Satanic Verses
.
While Iran denied any involvement in the attack, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said: (Rushdie) condemns, or even condemns, except for himself and his supporters.
Kanani added: We believe that the insult made to him and the support he received was an insult to believers of all religions.
Several Iranian newspapers praised Mr. Matar's attack, while some feared its repercussions.
One hardline Kayhan newspaper, whose editor-in-chief was appointed by Mr Khomeini himself, wrote: Rushdie in New York. You must kiss the hand of the man who tore off the neck of God's enemy.
BBC Monitoring analyzed reports and editorials from several Iranian sources, including hardline and reformist media outlets, While the attack on Mr. Rushdie was justified as a "religious execution," others claimed it was a plot to isolate Iran.
Meanwhile, Michael Hill, director of the Shatowka Institute where Mr. Rushdie was stabbed, said now was the time to confront "hate," but said the organization's mission would continue.
Reese said in the aftermath of the attack: We're not scared... if anything, we want to do more. ''
