Quebec writers react to Salman Rushdie attack

Quebec writers are reacting to the attack on author Salman Rushdie, calling the stabbing horrific and arguing that it is much more dangerous to voice an opinion.

Quebec writers are reacting to the attack on author Salman Rushdie, calling the stabbing horrific and arguing that freedom of speech is under threat.

For Montreal author Mariam Pal, who spent part of Sunday afternoon signing copies of her new book, Ballet Is Not For Muslim Girls, Rushdie’s stabbing in upstate New York was unexpected.

“Because I hadn’t thought of him in that regard for a number of years,” she said, “because the whole fatwah had seemed to have died down.”

His 1988 book Satanic Verses was seen as blasphemous by many Muslims and the then-Iranian leader issued an edict in 1989 calling for the author’s death.

Though Rushdie returned to somewhat normal life after years in hiding, Friday’s attack came as little surprise to Quebec author Louise Penny.

“He’s lived with that threat for so long and the fact is the environment that we’re living in is so divided,” she told Global News.

Some writers believe that now it is dangerous to voice an opinion, not just for writers.

“I find it very sad,” Pal said, “and I find it part of a whole movement in a world that seems to be veering towards a reactionary type of approach.”