Salman Rushdie opposes free Palestine movement, calls Hamas 'fascist terrorist group'

Opposing the free-Palestine movement, renowned author Salman Rushdie, said it would end up becoming a “Taliban-like state,” governed by Hamas. Rushdie made the comment at the launch of his new book ‘Knife’ at a literary festival in Germany.

Referring to pro-Palestine student protesters in the US and the Europe, Rushdie said it was “strange” that progressive youth was supporting a "fascist terrorist group" like Hamas.

"I would like some protesters to mention the role of Hamas, and that's a terrorist organisation. It's quite strange that political progressives support a fascist terrorist group," Rushdie said.

"Is this what the progressive movements of the Western Left want to create," he asked.

Rushdie claimed he had supported the formation of a Palestinian state for a long time, but now believed it would lead to an authoritarian regime like that in Afghanistan.

The 76-year-old novelist said he understood that the protests were an emotional reaction to Palestinian deaths, "but when it slides into antisemitism and sometimes even support for Hamas, then it becomes problematic".