Nine months after he was was stabbed on stage, acclaimed author Salman Rushdie in a rare public address has warned that freedom of expression in the West is under threat.

Rushdie, 75, delivered the video message at the British Book Awards on Monday, where he was awarded the Freedom to Publish award.

The attack at a literary festival in New York left him blinded in one eye.

Rushdie is best known for his 1988 novel The Satanic Verses.

The book, which some Muslims have decried as blasphemous, was banned in several countries within months of its publication and ignited protests at bookstores around the world.

Iran’s leader also called for Mr Rushdie’s assassination in 1989 and placed a $3m (£2.4m) bounty on the author’s head.

Davina McCall and Sir Salman Rushdie win at British Book Awards
As he accepted his award, Rushdie said he believes freedom of expression in the West is at a critical juncture.

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