The senseless attack on Salman Rushdie forces us to confront our values
Writers of all stripes – whether novelists or journalists – must be able to create, inspire and inform with integrity, free from fear of violent reprisals, writes Harriet Williamson
As the author Sir Salman Rushdie begins his road to recovery after suffering a horrendous knife attack in New York last Friday, discourse has turned to the protection of free expression from violence and intimidation.
As our editorial on Saturday states: “We have always been resolute in our condemnation of violence as a reaction to words, ideas or images that some people find offensive.”
Writers of all stripes – whether novelists or journalists – must be able to create, inspire and inform with integrity, free from fear of violent reprisals. It’s also vital that the extreme actions of a few are not used to justify prejudice and discriminaton against all those who follow a certain faith, or cynically employed to whip up hatred and fear.
We can condemn senseless violence without stoking division, perpetuating stereotypes and contributing to the oppression of minority groups that already face social and economic barriers.
I’m proud of the values that The Independent upholds as part of the media landscape, both in the UK and internationally. We stand for the oppressed in the face of the oppressor. We strive to provide a courageous witness to the causes of equality, global human rights and progressive, liberal values.
These guiding principles can be seen in action in the trusted reporting of international correspondents like Bel Trew in Ukraine, in campaigns such as Refugees Welcome, and in the diverse, thought-provoking opinions presented in our Voices section.
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As a writer and an editor, I believe it’s vital to have personal values that inform my journalism. Mine centre around giving a voice to those who are too often left voiceless, particularly in times of social crisis, such as during austerity and the current cost of living catastrophe, challenging oppressive narratives, and promoting peace and social justice. It might sound horribly lofty, but without them, what’s the point?
I hope you’ll join me in wishing Salman Rushdie a swift recovery.
Yours,
Harriet Williamson
Voices commissioning editor