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| Salman Rushdie recovering after getting stabbed. |
The 75-year old Rushdie, who was brutally attacked two days ago, is slowly recovering after suffering 10 stab wounds in the neck and chest, his family says.
"My father remains in critical condition in hospital receiving extensive ongoing medical treatment. We are extremely relieves that yesterday he was taken off the ventilator and additional oxygen and he was able to say a few words," tweeted Rushdie's son, Safar Rushdie.
"Though his life changing injuries are severe, his usual feisty and defiant sense of humor remains intact," the tweet continued.
Rushdie's 1988 novel, The Satanic Verses was deemed blasphemous by some Muslim leaders and religious leaders offered an award for the author's death. Rushdie has been in hiding ever since the threats on his life.
The attacking suspect, New Jersey man Hadi Matar, was subdued and arrested on stage at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York where Rushdie was being introduced for a lecture.
The suspect has appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree attempted murder and assault with a weapon.
Silvana Fardos, the suspect's mother, said she was surprised by her son's actions but noted that his personality changed after a trip to Lebanon to visit his father.
President Joe Biden on Saturday issued a statement saying that he and the first lady, Jill, were "shocked and saddened" by the "vicious" attack on the Mumbai-born Rushdie.
"Salman Rushdie—with his insight into humanity, with his unmatched sense for story, with his refusal to be intimidated or silenced—stands for essential, universal ideals," Biden's statement read. "Truth. Courage. Resilience. The ability to share ideas without fear. These are the building blocks of any free and open society. And today, we reaffirm our commitment to those deeply American values in solidarity with Rushdie and all those who stand for freedom of expression."
Silvana Fardos, the suspect's mother, said she was surprised by her son's actions but noted that his personality changed after a trip to Lebanon to visit his father.
President Joe Biden on Saturday issued a statement saying that he and the first lady, Jill, were "shocked and saddened" by the "vicious" attack on the Mumbai-born Rushdie.
"Salman Rushdie—with his insight into humanity, with his unmatched sense for story, with his refusal to be intimidated or silenced—stands for essential, universal ideals," Biden's statement read. "Truth. Courage. Resilience. The ability to share ideas without fear. These are the building blocks of any free and open society. And today, we reaffirm our commitment to those deeply American values in solidarity with Rushdie and all those who stand for freedom of expression."
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