Salman Rushdie Reflects on Knife Attack: “Surviving Feels Like a Miracle”
In an interview with “60 Minutes,” renowned author Sir Salman Rushdie shared his thoughts on the knife attack that almost ended his life in August 2022, referring to his survival as a miraculous event. Contemplating the incident, Mr. Rushdie questioned, “How does someone who doesn’t believe in the supernatural explain something that feels like a miracle?”
In the aftermath of the attack, the Indian-born writer expressed bewilderment regarding the circumstances of his survival, stating, “I don’t sense that a divine force shielded me, but something did occur that defied expectations. I can’t explain it.”
The assault took place during Mr. Rushdie’s speaking engagement at the Chautauqua Institution, where he was stabbed on stage, sustaining severe injuries such as a damaged liver and severed nerves. Recalling the harrowing moments, the author recollected, “I saw the man in black charging towards me… it felt like a force from the past attempting to pull me back in time… back to that distant past to end my life.”
Following the incident, 24-year-old Hadi Matar was arrested and moved from New York State Police barracks in Jamestown to Chautauqua County Jail in upstate New York. Mr. Matar pleaded not guilty in a New York courtroom to the charge of second-degree attempted murder and is awaiting trial.
Ayatollah Issues Fatwa
Upon the release of “The Satanic Verses” by Mr. Rushdie in 1988, there was significant controversy, particularly in some Muslim-majority regions where it was deemed blasphemous.
In the midst of this turmoil, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khamenei of Iran issued a fatwa in 1989 calling for Mr. Rushdie’s execution. Concerned for his safety, Mr. Rushdie sought asylum in the United Kingdom, where he is now a citizen.
Reaction to the book’s publication led to the assassination of its Japanese translator Hitoshi Igarashi in 1991 and attacks on others associated with it. Italian translator Ettore Capriolo survived a knife assault in the same year but sustained severe injuries. Norwegian publisher William Nygaard was shot outside his home in Oslo in 1993, suffering serious wounds.
Ordeal Detailed in Latest Memoir
Despite the adversity, Mr. Rushdie acknowledges the strangers who intervened to stop the attacker, recognizing their crucial role in his survival. The actions of unknown individuals in the audience—still strangers to him—prevented the assault and gave him a chance to fight back.
In his latest memoir “Knife,” Mr. Rushdie describes his traumatic experience as a testament to his resilience. Regarding his decision to document the attack, he remarked, “I don’t have any other defenses, but I’ve been using this particular tool for a long time, so I felt it was my way of coping with it.”
The specter of mortality is a constant presence in his life. “I don’t feel fundamentally different, but I sense a shadow lingering,” he admitted. “I simply feel death’s presence more keenly.”
