Salman Rushdie recovering after brutal Attack

The family of the Indian-born British-American novelist, Salman Rushdie, says his health is improving after a brutal attack that almost cost him his life.

The family expressed their gratitude to audience members who “bravely leapt to his defence” and for the “outpouring of love and support from around the world.”

Report of the 75-year-old Rushdie’s improving condition came as the suspect in Friday’s alleged attack, Hadi Matar of Fairview, New Jersey, was charged with attempted murder.

Rushdie, who was known for free speech campaigns, has faced death threats over his writing The. novelist was forced into hiding for nearly 10 years after The Satanic Verses was published in 1988. Many Muslims reacted with fury to it, arguing that the portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad was a grave insult to their faith

He was scheduled to give a lecture in southwestern New York, Friday morning when he was attacked.

Rushdie was stabbed multiple times, including once in the neck and abdomen, and was transported by helicopter to a trauma center in Pennsylvania, according to police.

The attacker, Hadi Matar was arrested at the scene of the attack by a New York State Police trooper after members in the audience pounced on him and held him down.

Authorities said the attacker is sympathetic to Iran and Hisbullah.

Iran has “categorically” denied any link with Salman Rushdie’s attacker – instead blaming the writer himself.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani, however,said freedom of speech did not justify Mr Rushdie insulting religion in his writing.