Writer Sir Salman Rushdie has lost the sight in an eye and the use of an arm after being stabbed on stage, his agent has said.
The Indian-born British author who received death threats for his novel The Satanic Verses was attacked in August when he was about to give a lecture in New York State.
He was stabbed about 12 times, including in the face and neck, but the full extent of his injuries was still unclear.
In an interview with the Spanish newspaper El Pais, At Sir Salman’s Literary agent Andrew Weil said the 75-year-old’s injuries were “extensive” and he had “lost the sight in one eye”.
“He had three serious wounds to his neck,” Mr Wiley said.
“One arm is disabled because the nerves in the arm have been severed. And he still has about 15 wounds in his chest and torso. So it was a brutal attack.”
Mr Wiley declined to say whether Sir Salman remained in hospital, saying he could not provide any information on his whereabouts.
“He will live… that’s more important,” he added.
Sir Salman has been in hiding for almost a decade since the 1988 publication of his work, The Satanic Verses, which some Muslims consider blasphemous.
A year later, Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa, or religious edict, calling on Muslims to kill him.
Mr Wylie said the attack “was probably a subject that Salman and I have discussed in the past”.
“The main danger he faced after so many years after the fatwa was introduced was a random person who appeared out of nowhere and attacked. [him]”- said the agent.
“So you can’t defend against it because it’s completely unexpected and illogical. It was like killing John Lennon.’
Read more:
Why is Salman Rushdie so controversial?
Hadi Matar is accused of stabbing Sir Salman. Photo: Chautauqua County Jail
After the attack on Sir Salman, Iran’s foreign ministry said the author “and his supporters are to blame for what happened to him.”
The man accused of stabbing Sir Salman has He did not plead guilty on charges of attempted murder and assault.
Hadi Matar, 24, is in custody awaiting trial.
https://news.sky.com/story/salman-rushdie-has-lost-sight-in-one-eye-and-use-of-hand-after-stabbing-says-agent-12728153
