BOTA

Salman Rushdie in serious condition, risks losing one of his eyes

Salman Rushdie in serious condition, risks losing one of his eyes

The well-known writer Salman Rushdie a day after the attack is still in serious condition and is even in danger of losing one of his eyes. The writer's agent, Andrew Wylie, has stated that his client is on ventilator support and is unable to speak.

"The news is not good," he said. "Salman is likely to lose one of his eyes. The nerves of one hand are damaged. His liver was also affected by the knife and was damaged as a result," he added.

Rushdie was rushed to hospital yesterday, where he underwent surgery, after being attacked with a knife during a literary event in New York. The 75-year-old writer was transported by helicopter to the hospital for a surgical intervention, but his health condition is not good. He was stabbed at least once in the neck and abdomen, according to New York police officials.

The author of the physical attack jumped on the scene of the activity, which was being followed by hundreds of people, and stabbed the well-known writer. Event organizers and participants intervened and neutralized the perpetrator of the attack, a 24-year-old man, who was then arrested by the police. Rushdie was first helped by a doctor present in the audience of the event and then taken to hospital by helicopter. The author of the incident is thought to have acted alone.

Rushdies work entitled The Satanic Verses has been banned in the Islamic Republic of Iran since 1988, as Muslims consider it blasphemy. The then leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a decree for Rushdie's death. A reward of more than 3 million dollars has been promised for anyone who would kill the writer. Iran's government has long distanced itself from Khomeini's decree, but hatred of Rushdie persists.