Author Salman Rushdie taken off ventilator; accused Matar pleaded ‘not guilty’

Renowned author Salman Rushdie was taken off a ventilator on Friday and will be able to talk. Rushdie was attacked by a man with a knife on Friday at an event in New York, USA.

According to the Washington Post, Rushdie’s agent Andrew Wyllie said Rushdie was taken off a ventilator and could be able to talk.

Earlier, Hadi Matar who stabbed the author Rushdie pleaded not guilty to attempted murder in the second degree. On Saturday, Matar was remanded without bail at Chautauqua County Jail.

According to the New York State Police, “On August 12, 2022, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation arrested Hadi Matar 24 of Fairview, NJ for Attempted Murder 2nd degree (B Felony) and Assault 2nd degree. Matar was processed at SP Jamestown and transported to Chautaugua Country Jail. Matar was arraigned in centralized arraignment on August 13, 2022, and was remanded without bail at Chautaugua Country Jail.”

Earlier, New York State Police identified the suspect as Hadi Matar. Matar hail from Fairview, New Jersey, and is 24 years old.

“Earlier today, approx at 10:47 am, the speaker Rushdie, 75, and Henry Reese, 73 has just arrived at the stage of the institution and shortly thereafter the suspect jumped out of the stage and attacked at least once in the neck and at least once in the abdomen,” Major Eugene J. Staniszewski said.

Meanwhile, the White House on Saturday also called the attack on Salman Rushdie “reprehensible”. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris wished the renowned author a speedy recovery.

Moreover, UK PM Boris Johnson said, “Appalled that Sir Salman Rushdie has been stabbed while exercising a right we should never cease to defend. Right now my thoughts are with his loved ones. We are all hoping he is okay.”

Salman Rushdie was born in 1974 in Mumbai and is 75 years old. He has a long history of controversies. After writing The Satanic Verses, he received death threats from Islamic extremists for several years.