Dayton Honors Salman Rushdie Amidst Ongoing Conflicts
DAYTON, Ohio – Author Salman Rushdie was recently honored at the Dayton Literary Peace Prize event, receiving a lifetime achievement award. This recognition comes after the release of his latest book, his first since being attacked three years ago.
The Dayton Literary Peace Prize celebrates both literary excellence and the promotion of peace through writing. The city of Dayton holds significance as the location where the Dayton Peace Accords were negotiated in 1995, bringing an end to the war in the Balkans.
Rushdie is known for his 1988 novel, “The Satanic Verses.” The book led to accusations of blasphemy and calls for his death. In 2022, Rushdie was attacked, resulting in the loss of sight in one eye. His attacker has since been sentenced to prison.
In his acceptance speech, Rushdie acknowledged the difficulty of writing about peace in a world filled with violence.
He emphasized the role of literature in showing support to those affected by conflict, including journalists.
Rushdie stated that literature can broaden our understanding by presenting different perspectives and revealing the realities of others.
Rushdie’s attacker, Hadi Matar, was said to be acting on the longstanding call for Rushdie’s death when he targeted the author in New York.
Rushdie’s recent memoir, “Knife,” received acclaim and was a finalist for the National Book Award for Nonfiction. His new book, “The Eleventh Hour,” features novellas and short stories.
Previous recipients of the lifetime achievement award include Jimmy Carter, Elie Wiesel, and Gloria Steinem. The award is named after diplomat Richard C. Holbrooke, who played a key role in the Dayton Peace Accords.
Other honorees this year include Kaveh Akbar and Sunil Amrith.
