Salman Rushdie receives first Lifetime Disturbing the Peace Award. Who gave it though?

Indian-born British-American novelist Salman Rushdie was conferred with the inaugural Lifetime Disturbing the Peace Award, presented by the Vaclav Havel Center on Manhattan’s Upper East Side on Tuesday, November 14, according to a report from AP.

The author's presence at the event remained relatively unknown to most attendees, AP reported, due to Rushdie's deliberate avoidance of public appearances since the unfortunate incident in August 2022 when he was stabbed multiple times during a literary festival in Western New York.

What

• Rushdie, upon being introduced by Azar Nafisi, the author of "Reading Lolita in Tehran," humorously remarked on November 14, "I apologize for being a mystery guest," and added, "I don’t feel at all mysterious. But it made life a little simpler."

• In the preceding month, Rushdie was also bestowed with the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade.
  Reflecting on the irony of receiving an award for "disturbing the peace," Rushdie contemplated the implications of his position.

• During his acceptance speech, Rushdie expressed gratitude for the recognition in Havel's name, acknowledging Havel's support during the period when he was forced into hiding following Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's 1989 decree over alleged blasphemy in "The Satanic Verses." Rushdie regarded Havel as a personal hero, praising his ability to be both an artist and an activist.

• The event, hosted by Lesley Stahl, a seasoned CBS journalist, took place at the Havel Center, formerly known as the Vaclav Havel Library Foundation. Established in 2012, the Havel Center is dedicated to upholding Havel's legacy and advocating for human rights and freedom of expression.

• Additionally, the imprisoned Egyptian activist, Alaa Abdel-Fattah, was honoured with the Disturbing the Peace Award for a Courageous Writer at Risk. The acclaimed author and translator Adhaf Soueif accepted the award on Abdel-Fattah's behalf. 

Who is Abdel-Fattah? 

• Abdel-Fattah gained international prominence during the 2011 pro-democracy uprisings in the Middle East, which led to the ousting of Egypt’s long-standing President Hosni Mubarak.

• He remains an emblem of resistance against Egypt's authoritarian regime.