‘This is shocking’: writers and celebrities horrified by Salman Rushdie attack | Salman Rushdie

Journalists, writers and celebrities reacted with shock and horror after author Salman Rushdie was attacked onstage at an event in upstate New York on Friday.

According to witnesses, Rushdie was attacked while he was about to give a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York. Police later said he was taken to hospital with an apparent stab wound to the neck.

Rushdie’s writings, which many Muslims consider blasphemous, prompted death threats from Iran in the 1980s, when Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa, or edict, calling for Rushdie’s death.

Stephen King tweeted: “I hope Salman Rushdie is okay.”

“‘What is freedom of expression? Without offending freedom, it ceases to exist.’ – Salman Rushdie. I have thoughts for you today,” tweeted Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon on NPR, quoting Rushdie’s own words.

Wajahat Ali, author of Go Back to Where You Came From and columnist for Daily Beast, tweeted, “I went there two weeks ago and gave a talk. It’s a beautiful place with an amazing, curious and welcoming community. That’s shocking. I hope Salman Rushdie is not injured and can recover and heal quickly. How disgusting.”

He added: “Mad men who want to police the world by force. Salman Rushdie was stabbed today. The FBI attacked yesterday. I fear these examples of violence will only escalate further as polarization, disinformation and extremism become mainstream.”

Neil Gaiman wrote: “I am shocked and distraught to see that my friend @SalmanRushdie was attacked before a lecture. He is a good and brilliant man and I hope he is doing well.”

“Prayers for Salman Rushdie,” tweeted former Democratic presidential candidate and author Marianne Williamson.

Thanking the state police for the quick response, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul shared her thoughts with Rushdie by tweeting, “Thank you for the quick response from @nyspolice and first responders after author Salman Rushdie’s attack today. Our thoughts are with Salman and his loved ones after this terrible event. I have directed state police to further assist with the investigation if needed.”

Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to defending freedom of expression through literature, issued a statement saying, “PEN America is shocked and appalled by the news of a brutal, premeditated attack on our former President and staunch ally, Salman Rushdie… We cannot think of a comparable incident of a public violent attack on a literary author on American soil.”

She continued: “On Friday morning, just hours before the attack, Salman emailed me to help find jobs for Ukrainian writers who need a safe haven from the grave dangers they face. Salman Rushdie has been targeted for decades for his words but has never flinched or hesitated. He has devoted tireless energy to helping others who are vulnerable and threatened.”