Today, Monday, Iran “categorically denied” any connection with the attacker who attacked writer Salman Rushdie, author of the novel “The Satanic Verses”, against which the former Iranian leader, Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa in 1989.
This is the first official response from the Iranian side, which has been subject to fierce criticism since Friday. “No one has the right to accuse the Islamic Republic” (of what happened), Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said in a press briefing on Monday.
Kanaani added that Salman Rushdie, the novelist who was repeatedly stabbed during a public appearance in New York state last Friday, and his supporters, are responsible for the attack.
Kinani added that freedom of expression does not justify Rushdie’s abuse of religion in his writings.
He continued, saying that Iran had no other information about Rushdie’s attacker except for what appeared in the media.
The British writer’s agent confirmed on Sunday that the latter is “recovering”, two days after he was stabbed in the stomach and neck by an American young man of Lebanese origin during an event in the United States.
His agent, Andrew Wiley, said in a statement sent to several media outlets that Rushdie is no longer dependent on respirators and “is starting to recover,” noting that his recovery will take “a long time. His injuries are serious, but his condition is developing in the right direction.”
Hard-line and conservative Iranian newspapers had since Saturday blessed “the brave man of duty who attacked the apostate and the evil one (Rushdie).”