Salman Rushdie feared it was ‘the end’ after stabbing attack left him in a ‘lake of blood’, says report | Arts & Entertainment News

Sir Salman Rushdie has revealed in an interview with Sky News that he believed it would be the end for him after he was stabbed multiple times at a public lecture in 2022.

The Indian-born British author suffered life-changing injuries, including the loss of his right eye, as a result of the attack at the Chautauqua Institution in New York state.

During the interview, Sir Salman described the terrifying experience of the attack and how he sustained over a dozen injuries within 30 seconds. Thankfully, he survived the brutal assault. He considered himself fortunate to escape with his life despite the severity of his injuries.

In a new book titled Knife: Meditations After An Attempted Murder, Sir Salman reflects on the attack and the importance of freedom of expression. He explains that the book was a way for him to regain control of the narrative surrounding the incident. He also expressed his concern about extremist fanaticism, referencing incidents like the attack on a teacher at Batley Grammar School.

Looking back at his writing career, Sir Salman discussed how Islam has been portrayed in his work and emphasized the peaceful nature of the Indian Islam he grew up with. He encouraged people to explore the more traditional forms of Islam that promote peace and reject violence.

On 21 April, Sir Salman will be discussing his latest book and the attack as part of the Southbank Centre’s Spring Literature and Spoken Word Season.