Renowned author Salman Rushdie recently spoke out for the first time about the harrowing attack that almost cost him his life in 2022. In an exclusive interview with “60 Minutes” host Anderson Cooper, Rushdie described the event as nothing short of a “miracle” that he survived.
The attack took place at the Chautauqua Institution, where Rushdie was scheduled to give a lecture. He was brutally stabbed on stage, sustaining serious injuries that required immediate surgery. Thankfully, the skilled doctors who operated on him noted that the attacker’s lack of knowledge in using a knife ultimately saved Rushdie’s life.
The motive behind the attack can be traced back to Rushdie’s controversial novel, “The Satanic Verses,” which sparked outrage and protests upon its release. The book even led to a fatwa issued against him by Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini. Despite the attacker, Hadi Matar, admitting to not having read the book in its entirety, he claimed that Rushdie had insulted Islam.
During the interview, Rushdie shared his emotions of facing death so intimately during the brutal attack. However, he expressed gratitude towards the audience members who intervened and potentially saved his life. The traumatic incident has left a lasting impact on Rushdie, both physically and emotionally.
To commemorate his near-death experience, Rushdie has penned a memoir titled “Knife,” in which he details the terrifying events surrounding the attack. The memoir sheds light on the aftermath and the long-lasting effects the incident had on his life. Despite the darkness that the attack has cast over him, Rushdie remains resilient and continues to share his story with the world.
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