Iranian regime blames Rushdie himself for Friday's attack

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Naser Kanaani, said Monday that Salman Rushdie is to blame for the attack he suffered last Friday, when he was about to give a lecture on the role of the U.S. as a haven for persecuted writers in Chautauqua, New York.

In the first reaction coming from Tehran, Kanaani said that the Iranian government "has no link whatsoever with the stabbing" and that "no one has the right to blame them," despite the fact that the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ruhollah Khomeini, issued a death sentence against Rushdie in the form of a fatwa that has not been abolished. Kannani referred to The Satanic Verses, in which he claims that Rushdie "insults the sacred matters of Islam" and "provokes people's anger".

Regarding the writer's state of health, Rushdie no longer requires artificial respiration and was able to say a few words, as detailed by his son Zafar in a press release; although he "remains in critical condition" and there is a possibility of vision loss in one eye as a result of stab wounds he suffered in the face, abdomen and neck.

On the other hand, Rushdie's assailant, Hadi Matar, 24, a native of California and resident of New Jersey, has pleaded not guilty to authorities.

J.K. Rowling, also threatened: "Don't worry, you're next."

Police are investigating the threat that writer J.K. Rowling received on Twitter after publicly supporting Salman Rushdie. "Don't worry, you're next," the message said.

Rowling, famous for writing the Harry Potter saga, posted the threatening message, written by one Meer Asif Asiz, who also defended Hadi Matar. Rowling already has a lot of support on social networks after receiving these threats after being "horrified" by the attempt on Rushdie's life.