Salman Rushdie stabbing divides opinion in Iran as government remains quiet

Some believe attack was justified, while others fear further isolation for Iran

A man stormed the stage at the Chautauqua Institution in the US state of New York and began assaulting Salman Rushdie as he was being introduced. AP

Rushdie, whose writing led to death threats from Iran in the 1980s, was attacked on Friday while giving a lecture in western New York. AP

Bloodstains mark a screen on the stage where Rushdie was attacked. AP

Rushdie, behind screen left, is tended to after being attacked on stage. AP

Rushdie’s condition was not immediately known. AP

Concerns about the author's security have been raised in the past. AP

Iranian women hold banners during a demonstration against Rushdie in Tehran. AFP

Pro-Iranian Hezbollah protesters burn an effigy of Rushdie in Beirut, Lebanon. AFP

Though born in India, Rushdie has lived mostly between London and New York City. Reuters

Iranians expressed mixed reactions to the stabbing of author Salman Rushdie, as the Iranian government remained quiet despite a decades-old fatwa against the writer calling for his death.

Some expressed concern that their country — already isolated from the international community after decades of western sanctions due to Tehran's support for terror groups and its nuclear programme, could be further ostracised.

But speaking to the Associated Press on Saturday, resident Bahmani said news of the attack made him happy.

“I heard the news from TV and I was so glad because the insult Salman Rushdie made against our prophet, and the fatwa Imam [Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini] issued against him finally worked,” he said.

Rushdie’s attacker has been identified as US national Hadi Matar, who originally comes from Lebanon.

It is unclear yet as to whether the attacker, who was born in the US, was directly influenced by the Iranian fatwa.

Rushdie’s 1988 book The Satanic Verses drew criticism for what some viewed as a blasphemous interpretation of the Prophet Mohammed’s life. Controversy still surrounds the book 34 years after its publication.

“I don’t know Salman Rushdie, but I am happy to hear that he was attacked, since he insulted Islam,” said Reza Amiri, 27, a deliveryman. “This is the fate for anybody who insults sanctities.”

But the disdain for Mr Rushdie was not unanimous. Some Iranians felt the incident would further distance their country from the international community.

Iran is currently awaiting the resumption of a 2015 nuclear agreement, currently in draft form.

The new deal would allow UN inspectors to visit atomic research sites in exchange for the lifting of trade sanctions, which have hindered the country's economic progress for decades, although they were briefly lifted under the Obama administration.

After the attempt on Mr Rushdie's life, some US politicians have argued that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's backing of the fatwa is proof that no new deal should go ahead.

The final draft of the agreement must be signed off by President Joe Biden and Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi.

“Iran has offered a bounty to anyone who assassinates Salman Rushdie. Today he was stabbed in America. Why is Biden still negotiating a 'deal' with these terrorists in Tehran?” tweeted US Senator and former Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio.

Tom Cotton, a Republican US Senator for Arkansas wrote on Twitter that Mr Rushdie's attempted killing was part of a years-long assassination campaign on US soil.

“We know they’re trying to assassinate American officials today. Biden needs to immediately end negotiations with this terrorist regime,” he said.

But some Iranians believed the attempted murder was a plot by the West.

“I feel those who did it are trying to isolate Iran,” said Mahshid Barati, 39, a geography teacher. “This will negatively affect relations with many — even Russia and China.”

Reactions from state-linked media praising Mr Rushdie's attacker

While fatwas can be revised or revoked, Mr Khamenei, who became supreme leader after Khomeini's death, has never done so.

“The decision made about Salman Rushdie is still valid,” he said in 1989. “As I have already said, this is a bullet for which there is a target. It has been shot. It will one day sooner or later hit the target.”

As recently as February 2017, Mr Khamenei said the fatwa was still in effect.

“The decree is as Imam Khomeini issued,” he said.