Leïla Slimani: ‘Attack on Salman Rushdie shows why we must not censor ourselves’

The bestselling author fears she too could be a target but says terrorists cannot be allowed to win

The bestselling author Leila Slimani says the knife attack on Salman Rushdie has left her and other writers afraid, but that they have a duty" to keep making public appearances and resist censoring themselves, despite the dangers.

The French-Moroccan writer, whose novels include Adele, Lullaby and The Country of Others and is Emmanuel Macron's personal representative for the promotion of French language and culture, said defending her freedom as a writer feels even more important than before" and was an act of resistance.