Renowned author Salman Rushdie made a surprise appearance at the Václav Havel Center in New York to accept the Lifetime Disturbing the Peace award. The event, held at the Bohemian National Hall on the Upper East Side, was unpublicized, and security concerns led to the presence of the New York Police Department. Rushdie, known for novels like Midnight’s Children, addressed the audience in a black button-up shirt and suit, expressing apologies for being a “mystery guest” and received a standing ovation.
Presented by Azar Nafisi, author of Teaching Lolita in Tehran, the award acknowledged Rushdie’s steadfast defense of freedom of expression, evident in both his fiction and commentaries. The Václav Havel Center highlighted Rushdie’s alignment with the principles embodied by the award.
Reflecting on Václav Havel’s legacy, Rushdie praised the former Czech president’s ability to balance artistry and activism. The ceremony also recognized Egyptian political theorist Alaa Abd El-Fattah, who is currently imprisoned under harsh conditions. His aunt, Ahdaf Soueif, accepted the award on his behalf.
The surprise public appearance comes after a violent assault on Rushdie during a literary event in August 2022 at the Chautauqua Institution in New York. Rushdie was attacked on stage, repeatedly stabbed in the neck and abdomen. Prompt intervention by a state trooper led to the assailant’s apprehension, and Rushdie was urgently transported to UPMC Hamot, losing sight in one eye and the use of one hand due to the attack.
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