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 had "great support" and said the incident "does not scare me".
"Our mission is to protect writers in the sanctuary, and to see Salman Rushdie beaten for his life is unimaginable...before your eyes." It's hard to describe what it's like to see that happen in 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's an important figure to the world," he told the BBC
New York Times {30 In an emailed statement to }, he called Mr Rushdie "one of the great advocates" of "taking away freedom of speech and creative expression," and added that "this attack could occur in the United States." The fact that there are many governments, many individuals and organizations pose a threat to writers," he added.
"This is a very bold attack on the core values of freedom and ways of resolving differences other than violence, using art, literature and journalism," said Reese of The Atlantic. told to
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 called on Muslims worldwide to kill the Indian-born author after his book was accused of being blasphemous.
The New Yorker reported that Khomeini had never read The Satanic Verses
while Iran was implicated in the attack. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said: (Rushdie) condemns, or even condemns, except for himself and his supporters.
Kanani added: We believe that the insults made and the support he received were 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. ''
