By IANS
Kolkata : Controversial Bangladeshi novelist Taslima Nasreen says her attackers at a book release function in Hyderabad earlier Thursday were intent on killing her, but she would not be cowed down and would continue to write.
“The Muslim leaders were bent on killing me. They broke open the door of the Hyderabad Press Club and hurled brickbats at me. Had they been armed, they would have killed me,” she said after returning to her Rawdon Street home in central Kolkata.
Officials said Taslima arrived at the airport here around 6.45 p.m. and was immediately bundled into a car under heavy security cover.
“It was the police who saved me and rushed me to the airport. I am thankful to them,” she said.
She was attacked by some leaders of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, a Muslim political party, at the release of the Telugu translation of her latest novel “Shodh”.
Though she escaped unhurt as she was saved by some participants and journalists at the function, one man received an injury on his face that drew blood.
“Those who attacked me belonged to a minority group, but the majority of the people still support me. I will continue to write for them and always try to uphold the freedom of speech and expression,” Taslima said.
The writer is living in exile in Kolkata following a fatwa issued against her by Islamic groups in Bangladesh for her book “Lajja”.
The West Bengal government took note of the incident and was considering her security arrangements.
“Taslima gets adequate security cover from the city police, but we are thinking of reviewing her security after the attack on her in Hyderabad,” State Home Secretary Prasad Ranjan Ray told reporters.
Ray said the central government had extended the writer’s visa, due to expire this month, by six months till February next year.
“Taslima had earlier approached us for extension of her visa following which we wrote to the union home ministry,” he said.
Left Front chairman Biman Bose condemned the attack on he author. “Such incidents cannot be tolerated in a civilised society. A person cannot be attacked for voicing her opinion before journalists,” he said.
Several writers and feminist organisations also condemned the attack on Taslima.