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**Rushdie Says He’s ‘Over’ Attack, Focuses on Future Writing**
HAY-ON-WYE, WALES – Sir Salman Rushdie, the acclaimed author of “Midnight’s Children” and “The Satanic Verses,” has declared that he is moving on from the 2022 knife attack that left him with life-changing injuries. Speaking at the Hay Festival, Rushdie told audiences he was “over” the incident, which resulted in his attacker, Hadi Matar, receiving a 25-year prison sentence for attempted murder.
“It will be nice to talk about fiction again because ever since the attack, really the only thing anybody’s wanted to talk about is the attack, but I’m over it,” Rushdie said. He highlighted a personal moment of triumph when he and his wife revisited the scene of the crime, saying he wanted “to show myself I could stand up where I fell down.”
Despite the permanent loss of sight in one eye, a damaged liver, and a paralyzed hand due to nerve damage, Rushdie expressed a resilient optimism. “I’m in better shape than maybe I would have expected,” he stated.
Rushdie addressed a range of topics at the festival, including US politics, expressing disappointment with the current political climate. He also emphasized the importance of free speech, stating that it requires tolerating opinions one disagrees with. He warned against the dangers of suppressing speech and advised young people to think about it. When questioned on AI he said it has no sense of humor.
The event, which was heavily secured, also served as a platform for Rushdie to promote his upcoming short story collection, “The Eleventh Hour,” his first work of fiction since the attack. He also joked about his financial situation despite his reputation and said that he was like Taylor Swift compared to JK Rowling.
Rushdie’s appearance at the Hay Festival demonstrates his determination to reclaim his narrative and return to his craft, signaling a new chapter in his life after a harrowing ordeal.
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