The International Publishers Association (IPA) is disappointed in the decision by the Oslo District Attorney’s Office to dismiss the case regarding the attempted murder in 1993 of William Nygaard, publisher at Aschehoug of The Satanic Verses. Charges had been filed in 2018, 25 years after the shooting and 20 years after the case had originally closed. The IPA says that this week’s cited insufficient evidence for both of the accused as justification for the decision.
Reacting to the judgement of the Norwegian State Attorney, Lars Erik Alfheim, to close the case against those accused, José Borghino, IPA Secretary General said: “It is unfortunate to see that the attempted murder of a publisher, an attempt driven by a book they published, has reached a dead end in the courts. Freedom of expression needs brave publishers and we should protect and encourage them. This attack on the freedom to publish was flagrant and clearly aimed at silencing authors, publishers and translators. It shook publishing when it happened, and it is sad to see this failure to hold those responsible to account.