UNITED KINGDOM: A death threat was sent to author J.K. Rowling after she condemned the attack on Salman Rushdie in a tweet. Rowling, 57, posted screenshots of the user’s threat message on Twitter.
In response to Rushdie’s stabbing, the author of the Harry Potter series tweeted, “Feeling very sick right now. Let him be okay.”
A user responded to the tweet and said, “Don’t worry. You are next.”
The Twitter account that threatened Rowling also supported Hadi Matar, the New Jersey attacker who stabbed Rushdie multiple times on Friday during a literary event in western New York. Rushdie is currently on a ventilator, has a damaged liver, and may lose an eye.
Hadi Matar, who is alleged to have connections to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Shia extremism.
In connection with the incident, Matar has been charged with attempted second-degree murder and second-degree assault as police investigate the circumstances leading up to it.
As per the reports, the reason could be Rushdie’s book, “The Satanic Verses”. Many Muslims consider Rushdie’s book “The Satanic Verses” to be blasphemous, it has been illegal in Iran since 1988.
Earlier, J.K. Rowling drew criticism from online users previously after making a transphobic statement on International Women’s Day. She sent out the tweet in response to the Scottish government’s decision to legalise the ease of changing gender.
Several Twitter users harshly criticised her for spreading transphobic remarks on a day that honours gender equality in response to her tweet.
The author tweeted, “Apparently, under a Labour government, today will become We Who Must Not Be Named Day.” The tweet referred to Annalise Dodds, the Labour Equalities Minister when she was asked, “How do you define a woman?”
Also Read: Salman Rushdie Attacked on Stage in New York
