Hu Xijin, an ultranationalistic firebrand who writes for Beijing’s hawkish Global Times, erroneously implied that Rushdie had been killed during the attempt on his life in New York state a fortnight ago. The famed author remains hospitalized.
“Western media should join the condemnation of the assassination of Alexander Dugin’s daughter (Dugin apparently was the original target), just as they condemned the assassination of Rushdie. The nature of the two assassinations was too similar,” Hu said in a tweet late on Monday.
Hu, a former chief editor of the state-run tabloid, didn’t elaborate. His comments were in line with what appears to be majority support for Russia’s cause among the Chinese public.
Philosopher Dugin, 60, is described as Vladimir Putin’s top propagandist, highly influential in the Russian president’s designs on Ukraine and other countries that once formed the Russian Empire. He and daughter Darya Dugina, 29, had attended a festival near Moscow over the weekend and reportedly intended to leave in the same vehicle before changing their plans.
Dugina, who also wrote for pro-Kremlin news outlets, died from a suspected car bomb in the Russian capital on Saturday, authorities said. Her father was thought to have been the intended target.
Kyiv has denied accusations out of the Kremlin about the involvement of the Ukrainian security services. An anti-Putin group and even Putin himself are speculated to have orchestrated the killing, which the Russian leader described as “a vile, cruel crime.”
British-American author Rushdie, meanwhile, is being lauded in the West as a champion of free speech. The 75-year-old had been the subject of assassination attempts and deaths threats since the publication of his 1988 novel The Satanic Verses—based on the life of the Islamic prophet Muhammad—the contents of which were believed to have motivated his alleged attacker.
Hadi Matar, 24, who was arrested and charged with attempted murder and assault, said he had read only “a couple pages” from the book.
“When I heard he survived, I was surprised, I guess,” Matar told New York Post in a video interview from Chautauqua County Jail.
“I don’t like the person. I don’t think he’s a very good person,” he said about Rushdie. “He’s someone who attacked Islam, he attacked their beliefs, the belief systems.”
The New Jersey man said he traveled to Chautauqua after learning that Rushdie would be attending an event there.
The acclaimed novelist, who was said to be in stable condition, was reportedly stabbed roughly 10 times as he prepared to speak at the non-profit. His life-changing injuries will reportedly include the loss of an eye.
