Islam critic Salman Rushdie, who suffered years of death threats after writing critically about Islam, has been STABBED in the neck during an appearance in New York

“Smite at their necks.” Quran 47: 4

UPDATE: ‘He has a pulse’

The Booker Prize-winning author, 75, was stabbed “several times” at 11am at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York state, the New York State Police said in a statement.

He was airlifted to an area hospital by helicopter, and his condition is unknown, state police said.

A suspect was immediately taken into custody by a state trooper assigned to the event.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul told reporters Mr Rushdie was “alive” and “getting the care he needs” at a press conference at around 12.30pm.

Henry Reese, the co-founder of the City of Asylum organisation who was sitting next to Mr Rushdie, suffered a minor head injury, police said.

Salman Rushdie and others (myself included) have been targeted for assassination by Muslims for violating the speech prohibitions under Islam. The left has been silent or worse, complicit in these crimes.

Biden’s unequivocal support for the Iranian regime, which first issued the death fatwa in 1979, had a hand.

These death fatwas never expire. They are as valid today as when they were first issued.

NOW – Salman Rushdie is stabbed on stage in New York.https://t.co/qFmYE6BC5E

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) August 12, 2022

BREAKING: Author Salman Rushdie has been attacked as he was about to give a lecture in western New York. An @AP reporter witnessed a man storm the stage at the Chautauqua Institution and begin punching or stabbing Rushdie as he was being introduced. https://t.co/bVTbfkLjyL

— The Associated Press (@AP) August 12, 2022

Rushdie assailant pic.twitter.com/j8UxfDmrWD

— ***Sarcasmic continuum*** (@SarcasmoDeMiami) August 12, 2022

AP: Author Salman Rushdie has been injured after being punched and stabbed on stage ahead of a speech he was due to give in Chautauqua, near Buffalo.

The writer, 75, was attacked as he was being introduced to the stage for the CHQ 2022 event before giving a lecture on Friday morning.

He was attending for a discussion of the United States as asylum for writers and other artists in exile and as a home for freedom of creative expression.

Rushdie has previously received death threats for his writing, with his book the Satanic Verses sparking protests in 1988

Witnesses claimed that he managed to walk off stage with assistance and the attacker is reportedly in custody.

Blood appeared to be spattered on the wall behind where Rushdie had been attacked, with some also seen on a chair. His current condition is not known.

The author was knighted in 2007 in Britain ‘for services to literature’ by his friend Tony Blair.

Rushdie has previously received death threats for his writing, with his book the Satanic Verses which supposedly insulted the Prophet Mohammed and The Koran.

More here:

Salman Rushdie has been stabbed in the neck as he was about to give a speech in New York.

Police said The Satanic Verses author, 75, was attacked and suffered an apparent stab wound to his neck as he went on to the stage at the event in Chautauqua around 4pm UK time.

Witnesses said a man wearing a black mask stormed the stage “at lightning speed” before attacking Mr Rushdie for 20 seconds with the writer falling to the floor at the Chautauqua Institution, a not-for-profit education centre.

An Associated Press reporter saw the man punch or stab Mr Rushdie 10 to 15 times.

New York State Police said an interviewer was also attacked and suffered a minor head injury.

The attacker was then restrained before being arrested, with photos taken at the scene showing blood stains on a screeen and Mr Rushdie being treated onstage.

A small group of people were seen holding up his legs as he received treatment onstage, one witness said.

Mr Rushide was airlifted to a local hospital by helicopter. His condition was not immediately known.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said this evnening that the British author was alive and paid tribute to a police officer who “saved [Rushdie’s] life”.

Following publication of The Satanic Verses in 1988, Mr Rushdie received deaths threats and was forced into hiding for 10 years after a fatwa was placed on him by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the Leader of Iran, who claimed the novel was blasphemous and insulted the Prophet Muhammad and The Koran.

Related: Man Arrested with AK-47 Outside of Dissident Iranian Journalist’s Brooklyn Home

Pamela Geller, WND Column: The ISIS Death Fatwa

Watch VIDEO: CNN’s Alisyn Camerota Cross-Examines Assassination Target Pamela Geller

Freedom of speech is the foundation of a free society. Without it, a tyrant can wreak havoc unopposed, while his opponents are silenced.

Putting up with being offended is essential in a pluralistic society in which people differ on basic truths. If a group will not bear being offended without resorting to violence, that group will rule unopposed while everyone else lives in fear, while other groups curtail their activities to appease the violent group. This results in the violent group being able to tyrannize the others.

Islamic law forbids criticism of Islam, Quran, Muhammad. If they cannot be criticized in the US, we are in effect accepting Islamic law as overriding the freedom of speech. This would establish Muslims as a protected class and prevent honest discussion of how Islamic jihadists use the texts and teachings of Islam to justify violence and supremacism.

If speech that offends a group is outlawed, that group has absolute power, and a free society is destroyed. A group that cannot be criticized cannot be opposed. It can work its will no matter what it is, and no one will be able to say anything to stop it.

Candor about Islamic texts is blasphemous according to Islamic law, punishable by death. Many have been killed over them. At issue is whether we will protect those who speak out or censor ourselves and others over them, thereby in effect adopting Sharia.

Inoffensive speech needs no protection. The First Amendment was developed precisely in order to protect speech that was offensive to some, in order to prevent those who had power from claiming they were offended by speech opposing them and silencing the powerless.

A free society is by its nature one in which people put up with others being uncivil and offensive. The alternative is a quiet authoritarian society in which only one opinion is allowed and the others are silenced, and ultimately sent to the camps.

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