Showing posts with label Salman Rushdie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Salman Rushdie. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 06, 2023

Salman Rushdie and Freedom of Speech | ARTE.tv Culture

In 2022, Salman Rushdie narrowly survived an assassination attempt by an Islamic extremist. This year's winner of the German Publishers' Peace Prize at the Frankfurt Book Fair, we interview the acclaimed writer in New York. Also in the programme: Russian journalist Elena Kostyutchenko, Slovenian authors Pia Prezelj and Suzana Tratnik, and a focus on the graphic novel “Woman, Life, Freedom" by Marjane Satrapi.

Salman Rushdie and Freedom of Speech | ARTE.tv Culture


Tuesday, November 21, 2023

"The Good Guys Don't Always Win" | Salman Rushdie on Israel-Gaza, India, Panchatantra & Freedom

Nov 10, 2013 | Salman Rushdie's German Peace Prize 2023 — Acceptance Speech Courtesy — Friedenspreis des Deutschen Buchhandels

Salman Rushdie, the British-Indian writer, was awarded the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade in Frankfurt's historic St Paul's Church in October 2023.

The prestigious German Peace Prize, accompanied by a €25,000 ($27,300) payment, has been a significant honour in Germany since its inception in 1950.

In a commendatory speech, Rushdie's friend and fellow writer, Daniel Kehlmann, lauded him as "possibly the most important defender of freedom of art and speech of our time." Despite surviving a stabbing attack last year, Rushdie expressed his commitment to continuing the defence of freedom of speech.



WIKIPEDIA: Friedenspreis des Deutschen Buchhandels » | D | F.

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Salman Rushdie, l'interview exclusive

Sep 7, 2023 | Augustin Trapenard propose en direct chaque mercredi à 21h00 sur France 5, un magazine qui suit de près l'actualité littéraire avec pour seul mot d'ordre, le plaisir.

Depuis la fatwa lancée contre lui par l’ayatollah Khomeyni en 1989 suite à la publication des Versets sataniques (Christian Bourgois), Salman Rushdie est mondialement reconnu comme un symbole de la liberté d’expression.

Il y a un an, il était victime d’une tentative de meurtre qui lui coûtait un œil et l’usage d’une main. Son nouveau roman, célébration des pouvoirs de l’écriture, de l’imaginaire et des mots paraît enfin en France sous le titre La Cité de la victoire (Actes Sud), et c’est sans conteste l’évènement de cette rentrée littéraire.

Il offre à La Grande Librairie sa seule interview pour la télévision française.


This excellent interview has been conducted in English, but it does have French sub-titles. Unfortunately, it cannot be embedded on external websites. Tt must be viewed on YouTube itself. So, here’s a link to the interview. – Mark

More about Salman Rushdie here.

Wednesday, September 20, 2023

‘We’re Facing Another Old Enemy’: Rushdie Warns against Global Authoritarianism

THE GUARDIAN: Speaking in Philadelphia on Wednesday, Rushdie says US Republicans are moving away from democratic values including free speech

Salman Rushdie, pictured here on 18 May 2023 in New York. Photograph: Timothy A Clary/AFP/Getty Images

Salman Rushdie has warned of the threat of authoritarianism globally and said the US Republican party is “seeking to undermine” democratic values, at a forum in Philadelphia to discuss the threats against free speech in the US and around the world.

Appearing by video at the National First Amendment Summit on Wednesday, Rushdie attributed the rise of Donald Trump and Brexit to a “golden age myth”.

Rushdie, who was attacked in New York a little over a year ago, spoke as book bans continue to proliferate through the US. Interviewed by Suzanne Nossel, the CEO of the freedom of expression organization PEN America, Rushdie was asked what the greatest threat to free speech is today.

“If you asked me 10 or 20 years ago, I would probably have said that the main problems facing freedom of expression emanate from religious extremism,” Rushdie said.

“I think now we’re facing another old enemy, which is authoritarianism. I think there’s a real rise in authoritarian movements around the world, populist authoritarian demagoguery.

“Coupled with that, [there is] a willingness amongst at least some part of the population to cease to value the democratic values enshrined in the first amendment. So I think the problem is, I would now say, political more than primarily religious.” » | Adam Gabbatt | Thursday, September 14, 2023

Friday, May 19, 2023

Salman Rushdie Makes Surprise Appearance at PEN America Gala

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The novelist, who was stabbed and gravely wounded at a literary event last year, received an award from the freedom of expression organization.

Salman Rushdie walked onstage at PEN America’s annual gala on Thursday night, his first public appearance since he was stabbed and gravely wounded in an attack last August at a literary event in Western New York.

His appearance at the gala, which had not been announced, was a surprise. But no surprise, to those who know him, was that he began his speech with a joke.

“Well, hi everybody,” Rushdie said, as the crowd at the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan greeted him with whoops and a standing ovation. “It’s nice to be back — as opposed to not being back, which was also an option. I’m pretty glad the dice rolled this way.” » | Jennifer Schuessler | Thursday, May 18, 2023

Sunday, October 23, 2022

Salman Rushdie Has Lost Sight in One Eye and Use of One Hand, Says Agent

THE GUARDIAN: Full extent of injuries from ‘brutal attack’ on Satanic Verses author in New York state in August revealed

Salman Rushdie pictured in 2017. The author was stabbed in the neck and torso as he came on stage to give a talk on artistic freedom on 12 August. Photograph: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Salman Rushdie has lost sight in one eye and the use of one hand after the attack he suffered while preparing to deliver a lecture in New York state two months ago, his agent has confirmed.

The 75-year-old author, who received death threats from Iran in the 1980s after his novel The Satanic Verses was published, was stabbed in the neck and torso as he came on stage to give a talk on artistic freedom at the Chautauqua Institution on 12 August.

Until now, the full extent of Rushdie’s injuries had been unclear. But in an interview with Spain’s El País, Andrew Wylie explained how serious and life-changing the attack had been.

“[His wounds] were profound, but he’s [also] lost the sight of one eye,” said Wylie. “He had three serious wounds in his neck. One hand is incapacitated because the nerves in his arm were cut. And he has about 15 more wounds in his chest and torso. So, it was a brutal attack.”

The agent declined to say whether Rushdie was still in hospital, saying the most important thing was that the writer was going to live. » | Sam Jones in Madrid | Sunday, October 23, 2022

Thursday, August 25, 2022

Ex-Muslims of North America: Why Salman Rushdie Was Stabbed: The Satanic Verses Affair

Aug 25, 2022 The attempted murder of acclaimed author Salman Rushdie on August 12, 2022 sent an earthquake through civil society and the literary world—but it was more than three decades in the making, originating with accusations of blasphemy against Islam in his 1988 novel The Satanic Verses. In the 34 years since, a conflict between fundamentalism and secularism has roiled liberal societies, culminating in this gruesome attempt on Rushdie's life. The "Rushdie affair" is not over—and it won't be over for a long time to come.

Thursday, August 18, 2022

Die Satanischen Verse: Todesurteil für Salman Rushdie | Doku HD Reupload | ARTE

Aug 17, 2022 Am 12. August 2022 wurde Salman Rushdie in New York angegriffen und schwer verletzt. Schon seit Jahrzehnten lebte der britisch-indische Autor mit der Angst vor einem Anschlag: Als 1988 seine "Satanischen Verse" erschienen, wurde er zur Hassfigur muslimischer Fundamentalisten. Der iranischen Revolutionsführer rief in der Folge dazu auf, Rushdie zu töten. Gemeinsam mit William Karel blickte der Schriftsteller 2018 auf die Bedeutung seines berühmten Buches zurück.

Mehr als zehn Jahre war der britisch-indische Schriftsteller Salman Rushdie auf der Flucht. Er musste sich verstecken, stand unter Polizeischutz, wechselte immer wieder Identität und Wohnsitz. Der Grund: das Todesurteil, das der iranische Revolutionsführer Ajatollah Chomeini 1989 in seiner Fatwa als Reaktion auf sein als blasphemisch eingestuftes Werk „Die satanischen Verse“ gegen ihn aussprach. Damals war sich noch kaum jemand bewusst, welche blutigen Folgen der neu erstarkte muslimische Fundamentalismus mit sich bringen würde. Rushdie lebte in ständiger Angst, zog zigmal um und überlebte rund 20 Mordanschläge. Die Fatwa der Mullahs wurde zwar inzwischen aufgehoben, doch die iranische Presse ruft noch immer zur Hinrichtung des Schriftstellers auf. Bei manchen öffentlichen Auftritten gelten weiterhin besondere Sicherheitsmaßnahmen, doch Rushdie selbst scheint die Angst hinter sich gelassen zu haben. Der Film porträtiert einen Mann, der Ruhe und Humor als Waffen des Widerstands nutzt. Ergänzt wird das Gespräch mit dem Schriftsteller durch Archivaufnahmen, die die aufkommende hysterische Stimmung nach Erscheinen der „Satanischen Verse“ bezeugen. Sie zeigen, wie Cat Stevens zum Mord an Rushdie aufrief, was er später dementierte. Sie zeigen auch, wie jene, die ihn hätten schützen sollen – von Jimmy Carter bis zu Prinz Charles – ihn fallenließen. Und wie andere ihn sofort unterstützten, darunter Isabelle Adjani, die bei der César-Verleihung aus den „Satanischen Versen“ vorlas. Abgerundet wird das Porträt durch Passagen aus Rushdies literarischen Werken.

Dokumentation von William Karel (F 2018, 55 Min)
Video auf YouTube verfügbar bis 15/02/2023


Tuesday, August 16, 2022

"Will We Become Our Enemy?": After Salman Rushdie Assassination Attempt, See Rare Address

Aug 15, 2022 Renowned Indian British novelist Salman Rushdie is in critical condition and faces a long road to recovery after he survived an assassination attempt Friday morning in western New York. Rushdie is one of the most highly acclaimed writers in the world today and has lived underground for many years after facing systematic threats of assassination for his writing. We feature Rushdie in his own words, when he gave a rare speech in 2004 on the freedom of expression at an event hosted by PEN America. "Will we become our enemy or not? Will we become repressive as our enemy is repressive? Will we become intolerant as our enemy is intolerant, or will we not?"

Le monde littéraire réagit à la violente agression de Salman Rushdie : « Attaquer les écrivains ne les fait pas taire. Cela ne fait qu’amplifier leur voix »

LE MONDE : Ecrivains, essayistes et personnalités décrivent au « Monde » la portée du bouleversement intime et politique que représente l’attaque contre l’auteur des « Versets sataniques ».

Salman Rushdie au Mexique, en octobre 2014. ALFREDO ESTRELLA / AFP

Certains sont des proches. D’autres, simplement, observent depuis des années ce qui se trame autour de lui, et sa propre résistance à la menace qui le poursuit depuis la fatwa lancée par l’ayatollah Khomeyni, le 14 février 1989. Tous, écrivains, essayistes, en France, au Royaume-Uni, en Inde, en Turquie ou aux Etats-Unis, racontent au Monde le bouleversement intime autant que politique que représente pour eux l’attaque subie par Salman Rushdie, vendredi 12 août, à Chautauqua (New York).

Saisis, inquiets – malgré les nouvelles rassurantes qui, progressivement, ont commencé à se faire jour durant le week-end –, ils se montrent d’abord frappés par les circonstances du drame. « C’est incroyable que cela lui soit arrivé lors d’une conférence sur scène, parce que c’est là qu’il est à son meilleur : devant un large public. On voit alors à quel point il est aiguisé, drôle, brillant », note ainsi le romancier américain Gary Shteyngart, ami de l’auteur des Versets sataniques (Bourgois, 1989) « depuis une dizaine d’années », précise-t-il. » | Par Florent Georgesco, Raphaëlle Leyris et Florence Noiville | mardi 16 août 2022

Article réservé aux abonnés

Monday, August 15, 2022

Salman Rushdie - Writing under Death Threats | DW Documentary

Aug 15, 2022 In 1988, Salman Rushdie’s novel "The Satanic Verses” was published. A year later, Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini issued a "fatwah,” or death sentence, against the British-Indian author. Now, Rushdie was critically injured after being attacked at a reading.

For more than a decade, the author was a fugitive. He had to go into hiding, was under police protection, and had constantly changing identities and homes. The reason was the order to kill Rushdie by Ayatollah Khomeini that came after the publication of his novel, The Satanic Verses. Khomeini declared the work blasphemous, and Rushdie a heretic. At the time, Islamic fundamentalism and its violent and deadly consequences were not on the agenda yet. Rushdie lived in constant fear and survived 20 attempts on his life.

The film is a portrait of a man who uses calmness and humor as weapons of resistance. The portrait includes interviews with Rushdie and also features archive footage that show the violent reaction and mood after The Satanic Verses was published. They show how pop singer Cat Stevens called for Rushdie’s execution - which Cat Stevens would later deny. The film also draws attention to those who should have protected Rushdie, but abandoned him - from Jimmy Carter to Prince Charles. But there are examples of instant support too, like Isabelle Adjani, who read from The Satanic Verses at the César award ceremony. In New York, the author looks back on his life and his most famous novel, which has lost none of its importance. He speaks about his life, his childhood in Mumbai, Donald Trump and literature, of course.


Les multiples victimes de la fatwa contre « Les Versets sataniques »

LE MONDE : Salman Rushdie est visé depuis 1989 par une fatwa lancée par l’ayatollah iranien Khomeyni à cause de son roman « Les Versets sataniques ». Si l’auteur a été victime d’une attaque au couteau le 12 août, il est loin d’être la seule victime de cet appel au meurtre.

Il n’a fallu que quelques pages d’un de ses romans pour que Salman Rushdie se retrouve en danger de mort. En publiant Les Versets sataniques, dont un passage a été jugé blasphématoire par l’ayatollah Khomeyni en 1989, l’auteur britannique a été visé par une fatwa selon laquelle Téhéran proposait trois millions de dollars à quiconque abattrait l’écrivain. » | Par Service vidéo du Monde | lundi 15 août 2022


Outre Salman Rushdie, d’autres personnalités publiques ou des anonymes vivent sous la menace des fondamentalistes : Des dizaines, et potentiellement bien plus, de personnes vivent sous la menace d’une fatwa ou d’une attaque, les obligeant à vivre sous protection. Dont plusieurs en France. »

U.K. Police Investigate Online Threat to J.K. Rowling

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The author of the “Harry Potter” books was threatened on Twitter after she posted condolences for the novelist Salman Rushdie, who was stabbed on Friday in western New York.

The threat was in response to J.K. Rowling’s tweet that the assault on the novelist Salman Rushdie was “Horrifying news.” | Neil Hall/EPA, via Shutterstock

The authorities in the United Kingdom said on Sunday that they were investigating an online threat against the author J.K. Rowling after she offered support on social media to Salman Rushdie, the novelist who was attacked last week at an event in western New York.

Hours after the attack on Mr. Rushdie, who was stabbed roughly 10 times as he prepared to speak at the Chautauqua Institution, Ms. Rowling tweeted her condolences. She first wrote on Twitter, “Horrifying news,” then added: “Feeling very sick right now. Let him be OK.”

In response, a user with the handle @MeerAsifAziz1 replied: “Don’t worry you are next.”

The tweet was later deleted, and the account was suspended by Sunday evening. » | Kurtis Lee | Sunday, August 14,2022

Salman Rushdie attaqué : l’Iran dément « catégoriquement » tout lien avec l’agresseur

LE MONDE : Selon le porte-parole du ministère des affaires étrangères iranien, « seuls Salman Rushdie et ses partisans mériteraient d’être blâmés et même condamnés ». « Personne n’a le droit d’accuser la République islamique d’Iran », a-t-il ajouté.

Hadi Matar, 24 ans, lors de sa comparution devant le tribunal du comté de Chautauqua, à Mayville, Etat de New York, le 13 août 2022. GENE J. PUSKAR / AP

Trois jours après l’agression au couteau de Salman Rushdie, auteur des Versets sataniques, l’Iran a nié « catégoriquement », lundi 15 août, tout lien avec le suspect.

« Nous démentons catégoriquement » tout lien entre l’agresseur et l’Iran, et « personne n’a le droit d’accuser la République islamique d’Iran », a affirmé le porte-parole du ministère des affaires étrangères, Nasser Kanani, lors de ce qui constitue la première réaction officielle de Téhéran à l’attaque contre l’écrivain britannique.

« Dans cette attaque, seuls Salman Rushdie et ses partisans mériteraient d’être blâmés et même condamnés », a-t-il souligné. « En insultant les choses sacrées de l’islam et en franchissant les lignes rouges de plus d’un milliard et demi de musulmans et de tous les adeptes des religions divines, Salman Rushdie s’est exposé à la colère et à la rage des gens », a-t-il ajouté. » | Le Monde avec AFP | lundi 15 août 2022

Sunday, August 14, 2022

The Observer View on the Attack on Salman Rushdie Being an Attack on Free Expression

THE OBSERVER – EDITORIAL: The author’s courage to speak out while living under a fatwa for 30 years should be taken as an example by others

The right to dissent is fundamental to human development but, throughout history, writers and thinkers who have dared to challenge the orthodoxies of their time have faced persecution and violence. It takes extraordinary courage to persist in the face of mortal threats intended to intimidate, silence and terrorise.

For more than 30 years, Salman Rushdie has refused to be cowed by a fatwa calling for his assassination, issued in 1989 by the late supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The violent attack on Rushdie on Friday was not just a heinous attempt on the life of one of the world’s most insightful storytellers but an attack on the right to disagree, on liberal democracy and on freedom itself. » | a href=https://www.theguardian.com/profile/observer-editorials target=_blank>Observer editorial | Sunday, August 14, 2022

Salman Rushdie is off ventilator and able to talk, agent says: Author seriously injured in New York stabbing remains in hospital, as Joe Biden praises his courage and suspect denies attempted murder »

L’attaque au couteau contre Salman Rushdie était « préméditée », selon le procureur : Le procureur de Chautauqua, où a eu lieu l’agression, vendredi, a expliqué que le suspect avait préparé son attaque en obtenant notamment par avance un laissez-passer sous un faux nom pour l’événement où devait intervenir l’écrivain. »

« Ce qu’incarne Salman Rushdie, c’est la liberté d’expression face à l’islamisme et aux fondamentalismes, et il l’a payée à plusieurs titres » : La fatwa de l’ayatollah Khomeyni contre l’auteur des « Versets sataniques » a transformé la vie de l’écrivain en cauchemar et fait oublier les qualités de ce roman comme celles du reste de son œuvre, souligne, dans une tribune au « Monde », la philosophe Anna Bonalume. »

Le romancier Salman Rushdie, cible d’une fatwa depuis 33 ans, victime d’une attaque au couteau : L’auteur des « Versets sataniques », qui faisait l’objet de menaces de mort depuis 1989, se trouve dans un état grave après avoir été poignardé lors d’une conférence dans l’Etat de New York. Son agresseur, âgé de 24 ans, a été arrêté. »

Rushdie zeigt erste Anzeichen der Besserung: Der mutmaßliche Angreifer Salman Rushdies sitzt wegen versuchten Mordes in Untersuchungshaft. Das Mitgefühl für den verletzten Schriftsteller bleibt unterdessen groß. Nun gibt es erste Anzeichen für eine Besserung seines Zustands. »

Rushdie Stabbed Roughly 10 Times in Premeditated Attack, Prosecutors Say: The writer, who was gravely wounded and had been put on a ventilator after surgery, is now talking in the hospital, according to his agent. »

Related videos and articles.

Saturday, August 13, 2022

Author Salman Rushdie on a Ventilator after Being Stabbed | DW News

Aug 13, 2022 Author Salman Rushdie is alive but breathing through a ventilator after being stabbed on stage as he was about to give a lecture in New York state. Rushdie had spent years in hiding and under police protection after Iranian leaders called for his execution over his 1988 novel "The Satanic Verses." A 24-year-old man has been taken into custody.


Salman Rushdie: Author on ventilator and unable to speak, agent says: Salman Rushdie's agent has said "the news is not good" after the author was stabbed at an event in New York state. »

Who is Salman Rushdie? The writer who emerged from hiding: Over a literary career spanning five decades, Sir Salman Rushdie has been no stranger to death threats arising due to the nature of his work. »

Horrifying, ghastly: Authors condemn attack on Salman Rushdie: Authors around the world have expressed their shock and sadness at the attack on Salman Rushdie in New York state. »

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Salman Rushdie placé sous assistance respiratoire après avoir été poignardé lors d’une conférence dans l’Etat de New York

LE MONDE : Salman Rushdie a été visé par une fatwa de l’ayatollah iranien Ruhollah Khomeyni en 1989, après la publication de ses « Versets sataniques », livre que de nombreux musulmans considèrent comme blasphématoire.

Salman Rushdie lors d’une conférence au Havre (Seine-Maritime), le 13 septembre 2016. CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP

L’écrivain britannique Salman Rushdie, cible de menaces de mort de la part de l’Iran depuis la publication des Versets sataniques (1988), a été placé sous respirateur artificiel après avoir été agressé et poignardé au cou et à l’abdomen, vendredi 12 août, alors qu’il s’apprêtait à prendre la parole lors d’une conférence dans l’Etat de New York, aux Etats-Unis.

Immédiatement après l’agression sur l’estrade d’un amphithéâtre d’un centre culturel à Chautauqua, M. Rushdie a été transporté en hélicoptère vers l’hôpital le plus proche, où il a été opéré en urgence. « Les nouvelles ne sont pas bonnes », a fait savoir son agent, Andrew Wylie, qui a précisé que l’écrivain de 75 ans avait besoin d’une assistance respiratoire. « Salman va probablement perdre un œil, les nerfs de son bras ont été sectionnés et son foie a été poignardé et est endommagé », a-t-il ajouté. » | Le Monde avec AFP | vendredi 12 août 2022

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Salman Rushdie on Ventilator after Being Stabbed on Stage at New York State Event

THE GUARDIAN: Author attacked at event in western New York as police identify the suspect in custody as Hadi Matar

Sir Salman Rushdie remains on a ventilator after being attacked on stage at an event in western New York state on Friday morning.

Rushdie, the author whose writing led to death threats from Iran in the 1980s, was stabbed in the neck and torso as he was about to give a lecture in western New York.

Rushdie, 75, was taken to surgery, and Andrew Wylie, his spokesperson, said in a statement early Friday evening that the author was put on a ventilator and had suffered significant injuries: “The news is not good. Salman will likely lose one eye; the nerves in his arm were severed; and his liver was stabbed and damaged.”

Authorities later identified the man suspected of stabbing Rushdie as 24-year-old Hadi Matar of Fairview, New Jersey, who had bought a pass to the event. Plus video » | Ed Pilkington and Maya Yang in New York, Sam Levin in Los Angeles and agencies | Friday, August 12, 2022

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Friday, August 12, 2022

Salman Rushdie: Author Stabbed at Event in New York State

Aug 12, 2022 The author Salman Rushdie is being treated in hospital after he was stabbed on stage at an event in upstate New York.

The 75-year-old writer had been subjected to death threats by Iran in the 1980s - when Ayatollah Khomeini declared his works to be blasphemous.

New York's governor said a state police officer intervened - saving Sir Salman's life - as well as the event's moderator who was also injured.

The attack took place at an event at the Chautauqua Institution in the west of New York state.

Warning: This report contains distressing scenes.



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