Off ventilator, Salman Rushdie can talk now: says Chautauqua Institution President

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• Aug 14, 2022 | Poonam Nath

World leaders and literary giants expressed shock and sorrow over the attack on Rushdie.

Digital Desk: The president of Chautauqua Institution, where the Mumbai-born novelist was attacked during a speech onstage, says Salman Rushdie is off the ventilator and speaking.

Salman Rushdie is talking after being taken off the ventilator. Continued prayers from all @chq," wrote Michael Hill, president of Chautauqua Institution, in a tweet on Saturday night.

After being stabbed by Hadi Matar, 24, onstage during an event on Friday at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York State, Rushdie, 75, was on a ventilator. Rushdie was on a ventilator and unable to talk, according to his agent Andrew Wylie, who spoke to The New York Times (NYT) while Rushdie was in surgery many hours after the attack.

"It's not good news. Salman's liver was stabbed and damaged, the nerves in his arm were severed, and he most likely will lose one of his eyes, according to Wylie's statement to the New York Times.

In connection with Rushdie's stabbing, Matar was accused of attempted murder and assault. He entered a not-guilty plea. He made his court appearance while being handcuffed and donning a jumpsuit with black and white stripes.

According to the New York State Police, Matar, of Fairview, New Jersey, was detained on Friday for attempted second-degree murder (a B Felony) and second-degree assault. He was processed at the Jamestown State Police Station before being taken to the Chautauqua County Jail. He was "remanded without bond" to the Chautauqua County Jail on Saturday after being charged in a centralized arraignment.

World leaders and literary giants expressed horribleness and condemnation over the attack on Rushdie.

In a statement released on Saturday, US President Joe Biden said how "shocked and grieved" he and First Lady Jill Biden were to learn of the "vicious" attack on the author.

"Salman Rushdie stands for fundamental, enduring ideas with his insight into mankind, his unrivaled sense for narrative, and his refusal to be intimidated or silenced." the ability to discuss ideas without fear. These form the basis of any open and free society. In solidarity with Rushdie and everyone who supports freedom of expression, we reaffirm our commitment to these fundamentally American ideals today," Biden stated.

When informed of the assault on Rushdie, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his "appalling" shock. A statement from his spokesperson on Friday said, "The Secretary-General was outraged to learn of the attack on renowned novelist Salman Rushdie."

Guterres expressed his hopes for Rushdie's speedy recovery by saying, "In no situation is violence a response to words uttered or written by others in their enjoyment of the freedoms of opinion and speech."

Prosecutors claim that Rushdie was stabbed around ten times during the intentional assault.

According to the newspaper, "prosecutors testified in court that the attack on the author was premeditated and targeted." It also stated that Matar took a bus to the "intellectual retreat in western New York" and bought a pass to attend the talk "Rushdie was to give on Friday morning."