By sending on Twitter her support for Salman Rushdie, attacked with a knife on Friday, the author received a message assuring her that she would be “the next”. Scottish police have launched the investigation.
British police said on Sunday they were investigating an alleged threat including the author of the saga Harry PotterJK Rowling, says he was the target on Twitter after the attack on Salman Rushdie in the United States.
The British author had reacted to the aggression of the author of the satanic verses saying she was “disgusted” on the social network, adding that she hoped for her recovery. A user, who presents himself on his profile as a student and political activist based in Karachi in Pakistan, then replied: “Don’t worry you’re next”. The tweet was later deleted but JK Rowling posted a screenshot, calling out Twitter for possible violations of its rules.
“Our agents are investigating”
Threatened with death since a “fatwa” from Iran in 1989, a year after the publication of the satanic verses, Salman Rushdie was stabbed a dozen times on Friday, an attack that outrages in the West but is hailed by extremists in Iran and Pakistan. He was taken to hospital and his condition has improved, according to statements from his agent on Sunday.
“We have received information about a threat made online and our officers are investigating,” said a spokeswoman for police in Scotland, where the author lives.
Controversial author
Last year, J. K Rowling said she had received numerous death threats, she said, from transgender rights activists, of whom she has become a pet peeve in recent years.
In 2020, JK Rowling shared an article on Twitter referring to “people who menstruate”, commenting ironically: “I’m sure we had to have a word for these people. Someone help me. Feum ?fame?feemm?.
She thus drew the ire of certain Internet users, who reminded her that transgender men could have their period while transgender women do not.