After Indian-born British novelist Salman Rushdie was attacked during a writing conference in western New York on Friday, current and former Canadian politicians are weighing in on what such attacks mean for freedom of expression and thought.

Former Liberal Party of Canada leader Michael Ignatieff, who is a friend of Rushdie and has known him since 1984, told 麻豆传媒 Channel he felt a personal reaction of 鈥渟orrow, dismay, and anger鈥� after learning of the incident.

He considers such an attack a threat to freedom of thought.

鈥淚 just think fanaticism is a danger to free expression everywhere,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a danger to every writer and every free thinker. We have to stand against it everywhere it raises its head.鈥�

Rushdie鈥檚 novel 鈥淭he Satanic Verses,鈥� published in 1988, drew death threats from Iran鈥檚 leaders, who viewed the book as blasphemy towards Islamic faith and offered a reward for the death of its author. Rushdie was stabbed numerous times in the neck and abdomen on Friday and was rushed to the hospital.

鈥淚 just think this is an example of the ways in which a young person, adrift possibly in American society, thought his life had purpose if he executed a religious warrant for an execution,鈥� Ignatieff said.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 what鈥檚 dangerous going forward 鈥� that there will be other people who will think their lives will suddenly have meaning if they can execute the same warrant laid down 30 or more years ago.鈥�

Ignatieff believes the attack is a painful reminder of what鈥檚 at stake, and what, he said, must be protected.

鈥淲hat we have to defend here is the right of an artist of the word to use words to raise any subject,鈥� he said.

鈥淓very single belief, every single doctrine, including my own, should be subject to criticism, comedy, good jokes, bad jokes. That鈥檚 how freedom thrives.鈥�

Ignatieff said blasphemy, as a concept, 鈥渟hould not exist.鈥�

鈥淚 respect people who live their faiths,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 respect them as individuals. But I鈥檓 not under their obligation to respect their faith whether they鈥檙e Christian, Jewish, Muslim, or, you know, Liberal seculars. I鈥檓 not required to respect a faith. I鈥檓 required to respect persons. And I do. Whatever their faith. And I think that鈥檚 the distinction we need to hold.鈥�

The former Liberal Party leader added that 鈥渆very belief needs to be questioned. And that鈥檚 what he鈥檚 fought and that鈥檚 what he鈥檚 stood for. And that鈥檚 why [Rushdie] has paid the price he鈥檚 paid.鈥�

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also weighed in on the attack.

鈥淭he cowardly attack on Salman Rushdie is a strike on the freedom of expression that our world relies on,鈥� he tweeted on Saturday.

鈥淣o one should be threatened or harmed on the basis of what they have written. I鈥檓 wishing him a speedy recovery.鈥�