Author Salman Rushdie addressed a public audience this week — approximately nine months after being stabbed in an attempted assassination.
Rushdie addressed the audience of the British Book Awards on Monday after being awarded the Freedom to Publish Award.
Rushdie took the opportunity to speak about the importance of freedom of expression, saying he was increasingly worried about the future of civil liberties.
“Freedom of expression, freedom to publish has not in my lifetime been under such threat in the countries of the West,” Rushdie said.
Author Salman Rushdie was stabbed and critically injured on Aug. 12, 2022 during an appearance in New York. (HERBERT NEUBAUER/APA/AFP)
Rushdie warned Monday that he feared Western nations were also beginning to move in the direction of serious censorship.
SALMAN RUSHDIE, ATTACKED AT NEW YORK BOOK EVENT, EXPLORED GOOD VS. EVIL IN HIS WORK
“We live in a moment, I think, at which freedom of expression, freedom to publish has not in my lifetime been under such threat in the countries of the West,” Rushdie said.
The author has been the target of death threats for over three decades for penning “The Satanic Verses.”