Salman Rushdie brought attack on himself, says Iran

Sir Salman Rushdie brought a stabbing attack that left him with “life-changing” injuries on himself, Iran has said.

The foreign ministry said on Monday that “Salman Rushdie and his supporters are to blame for what happened to him”.

Its spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, said: “Freedom of speech does not justify Salman Rushdie’s insults upon religion and offence of its sanctities.”

Iran has no other information about Sir Salman’s attacker except what has appeared in media, Mr Kanaani said.

A spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was “ludicrous” to suggest Sir Salman was at all responsible for the attack.

The author, 75, was attacked on stage before giving an address in New York state on Friday. He was airlifted to hospital where he underwent hours of surgery and was taken off a ventilator on Saturday.

The suspect, Hadi Matar, 24, has denied attempted murder.

Sir Salman spent nearly a decade in hiding after the publication in 1988 of his work The Satanic Verses, which some Muslims consider to be blasphemous.

A fatwa, or religious edict, calling on Muslims to kill him was issued by Ayatollah Khomeini, the Iranian leader, a year later.

The religious leader never read Sir Salman’s book, it was reported.

Khomeini’s successor said later in 1989 that the fatwa had been fired like a “bullet” that would “one day sooner or later hit the target.”

Although such edicts can be revoked, Ayatollah Khamenei confirmed it was still in effect as recently as 2017.

‘Critical condition’ but off ventilator

Sir Salman’s son, Zafar Rushdie, said his father remained in a “critical condition” but was taken off a ventilator on Saturday.

“Though his life-changing injuries are severe, his usual feisty and defiant sense of humour remains intact,” he said.

Sir Salman was stabbed about 12 times, including in the face and neck, as he was introduced at the Chautauqua Institution in New York, according to local officials

One stab punctured his eye and another punctured his liver, the Chautauqua County district attorney’s office said.

He was also stabbed elsewhere in his abdomen and chest.

Full statement from Zafar Rushdie

Following the attack on Friday, my father remains in critical condition in hospital receiving extensive ongoing medical treatment.

We are extremely relieved that yesterday he was taken off the ventilator and additional oxygen and he was able to say a few words.

Though his life changing injuries are severe, his usual feisty & defiant sense of humour remains intact.

We are so grateful to all the audience members who bravely leapt to his defence and administered first aid along with the police and doctors who have cared for him and for the outpouring of love and support from around the world.

We ask for continued patience and privacy as the family come together at his bedside to support and help him through this time.

Giving an update on his condition on Sunday, Sir Salman’s literary agent, Andrew Wylie, said: “The road to recovery has begun.

“It will be long; the injuries are severe, but his condition is headed in the right direction.”

This article was originally published by Sky.com. Read the original article here.