Salman Rushdie Voices Frustration Over 'Free Speech Barbie' Persona
Salman Rushdie has openly expressed his fatigue with being labeled as everyone's "free speech Barbie," nearly four years after surviving a brutal assassination attempt that resulted in the loss of vision in his right eye. The acclaimed author made these poignant remarks during a discussion with George Packer from The Atlantic at the New Orleans Book Festival, held at Tulane University in Louisiana.
A Desire to Shift the Narrative
"It's a subject I'm anxious to change," Rushdie stated emphatically. "I don't feel symbolic. I feel actual. I feel like I'm a working writer trying to make his work." This declaration underscores his deep-seated wish to redirect public attention toward his literary contributions rather than the violent episode that nearly claimed his life.
The 2022 Attack and Its Aftermath
The incident in question occurred in August 2022 at the Chautauqua Institution in New York, where a knife-wielding assailant, Hadi Matar, stabbed Rushdie while he was on stage. The attack inflicted critical injuries to his liver, intestines, and right eye, permanently blinding him in that eye. Matar was subsequently sentenced to 25 years in prison for the attempted murder of Rushdie, along with an additional seven years for wounding Ralph Henry Reese, the moderator of the event.
This assault was motivated by Rushdie's novel The Satanic Verses, which Iranian religious leaders had condemned as blasphemous, leading to a fatwa, or death warrant, issued against him by the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989. Rushdie noted with frustration, "It's a little frustrating to be not known for a book – but for something that happened to a book." He added, "That was my fifth published book. 'Can we please talk about books?' I keep trying to say."
Return to Fiction Writing
In a significant step forward, Rushdie recently published his short story collection, The Eleventh Hour, in November, marking his first fiction work since the attack. He described feeling a profound sense of relief upon returning to fiction, following the completion of his memoir, Knife, which detailed the assassination attempt and was released in April 2024.
"After I finished writing the memoir, almost immediately, it's like a door in my head opened and the stories came back," Rushdie shared. "I'd been really worried that I wouldn't be able to write fiction anymore … because of trauma and the shocking impact of what happened."
Advocacy for Free Speech
Despite his desire to move past the violence, Rushdie has actively championed free speech, serving as president of PEN America, a prominent writers' advocacy group, for two years. He reflected on the evolving challenges to free expression, noting, "Historically, attacks on free expression have come from the rich and powerful, and the religious. Coming from a more liberal background, there now seems to be a different kind of problem. One is self-censorship" driven by fears of unpopular opinions or cultural appropriation.
Rushdie specifically pointed out that this issue is particularly acute for young writers today. However, he asserted his own lack of such concerns, quipping, "I'm so old, I don't give a damn."
Looking Ahead
As Rushdie continues to navigate his recovery and literary career, his comments at the New Orleans event highlight a resilient spirit focused on creativity over symbolism. By emphasizing his role as a working writer, he aims to steer the conversation back to his books and away from the tragic events that have overshadowed his work for years.
