This Friday, August 12, writer Salman Rushdie, author of The Satanic Verses, was stabbed in the neck and abdomen during a conference in New York State. Hospitalized, the 75-year-old writer was placed on an artificial respirator for a time before being disconnected. His aggression, linked to the fatwa launched against him since the 1980s and the release of his cult book, has outraged all over the world.

“YOU’RE NEXT”

The attack on Salman Rushdie sparked a wave of indignation in the United Kingdom – country of which he is a national -, especially in the literary world. However, since Friday, an Islamist extremist named Meer Asif Aziz has responded to messages of support for the writer by posting threatening messages on Twitter. The latter describes himself as a “student, social activist, political activist and researcher” based in Karachi, Pakista.

This Saturday, August 13, it is the British writer J.K. Rowling, known for being the author of the Harry Potter books, who paid the price. She testified the day before her indignation at the attack on her colleague by writing: “Horrible news. I feel very bad at the moment. May he be well.” Meer Asif Aziz replied, “Don’t worry, you’re next.” In reaction and to condemn these threats, J.K. Rowling, who took a screenshot of the posted messages, wrote: “@TwitterSupport any chance of support?”

Finally, the writer was able to count on the support of her subscribers and also of the police: “To all those who send me messages of support: thank you. The police got involved (she was already involved in other threats),” she said. An investigation has been opened.

Several stars spoke to support the novelist, such as singer Mylène Farmer, a longtime friend..