Statement: PEN America Reels from Shock and Horror Over Brutal Attack on Salman Rushdie

UPDATE: Sunday, August 14, 2022: Salman Rushdie ‘On the Road to Recovery,’ Agent Says (via AP)

Salman Rushdie is “on the road to recovery,” his agent confirmed Sunday, two days after the author of “The Satanic Verses” suffered serious injuries in a stabbing at a lecture in upstate New York.

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—End Update—

Here’s the Full Text of Statement Shared by Received From PEN America:

Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America, issued the following statement in response to the attack on author Salman Rushdie:

“PEN America is reeling from shock and horror at word of a brutal, premeditated attack on our former President and stalwart ally, Salman Rushdie, who was reportedly stabbed multiple times while on stage speaking at the Chautauqua Institute in upstate New York. We can think of no comparable incident of a public violent attack on a literary writer on American soil. Just hours before the attack, on Friday morning, Salman had emailed me to help with placements for Ukrainian writers in need of safe refuge from the grave perils they face. Salman Rushdie has been targeted for his words for decades but has never flinched nor faltered. He has devoted tireless energy to assisting others who are vulnerable and menaced. While we do not know the origins or motives of this attack, all those around the world who have met words with violence or called for the same are culpable for legitimizing this assault on a writer while he was engaged in his essential work of connecting to readers. Our thoughts and passions now lie with our dauntless Salman, wishing him a full and speedy recovery. We hope and believe fervently that his essential voice cannot and will not be silenced.”

See Also: Author Salman Rushdie attacked on lecture stage in New York (vi AP News)

UPDATE 1: National Coalition Against Censorship Deplores Assault on Rushdie

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