No place for bullies

The good news after the appalling attack on Sir Salman Rushdie is that the author is reportedly sitting up in his hospital bed and able to talk. His long-term injuries have yet to be assessed, with suggestions that he might even lose the sight in one eye.

In the wake of the assault by a knifeman in New York State, many fellow writers rushed to declare their support for Sir Salman, who has been living under a fatwah imposed by the late Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran for the past 30 years.

He spent 10 years in hiding following the furore over his book The Satanic Verses but in recent years felt the threat had abated. The alleged attacker arrested at the scene is said to be sympathetic to the causes of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard.

The attempted murder raises the question of free speech once more and the importance of countering intolerant and bigoted efforts to shut it down. Another writer who has faced abuse for speaking her mind is JK Rowling. She posted a tweet sympathising with Sir Salman, only to receive a message stating: “Don’t worry, you are next.”

The police are investigating, as they should be. If someone uttered a death threat verbally or by letter they would be arrested, charged and prosecuted. Twitter does not bestow impunity even if the posters seek anonymity.

Police have recently been urged to take street harassment against women more seriously, such as catcalls or wolf-whistling. Far more important is to make an example of someone who can use the attempted killing of one author to threaten another with the same fate. Until these people feel the full force of the law they will carry on with their cowardly bullying behind a screen that should not be allowed to act as cover for murderous intent.