Author Salman Rushdie was taken off the ventilator on Saturday in a sign of improving health, a day after he was stabbed as he prepared to give a lecture in upstate New York.
In a now-deleted tweet, fellow author Aatish Taseer said Mr Rushdie was able to talk, which later the celebrated author’s agent Andrew Wylie confirmed to the Associated Press without offering further details.
Michael E Hill, the president of the Chautauqua Institution tweeted: “@SalmanRushdie off ventilator and talking! Continued prayers from all @chq”.
Mr Rushdie’s alleged attacker — New Jersey-based, 24-year-old Hadi Matar — was charged with attempted murder by the Chautauqua County district attorney’s office. He was charged with one count of second-degree attempted murder and one count of second-degree assault. He appeared in court on Saturday and pleaded not guilty.
Mr Matar was taken to the Chautauqua County jail on Friday night.
President Joe Biden condemned the “vicious” attack on Sir Rushdie at the Chautauqua Institution, a nonprofit education and retreat centre, in a statement on Saturday afternoon.
He wrote: “Jill and I were shocked and saddened to learn of the vicious attack on Salman Rushdie yesterday in New York. We, together with all Americans and people around the world, are praying for his health and recovery. I am grateful to the first responders and the brave individuals who jumped into action to render aid to Rushdie and subdue the attacker.
“Salman Rushdie—with his insight into humanity, with his unmatched sense for story, with his refusal to be intimidated or silenced—stands for essential, universal ideals. Truth. Courage. Resilience. The ability to share ideas without fear. These are the building blocks of any free and open society. And today, we reaffirm our commitment to those deeply American values in solidarity with Rushdie and all those who stand for freedom of expression.”
-Independent
