Salman Rushdie winner of German Book Trade's Peace Prize

Salman Rushdie, who has been one of the world's most celebrated authors since the publication of his 1981 novel "Midnight's Children", is this year's winner of the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade.

The 76-year-old, who was seriously injured in an assassination attempt last year, will receive the award this autumn in Frankfurt's St. Paul's Church, the German Publishers and Booksellers Association said on Monday.

The Indian-born British author is being honoured for "his indomitable spirit, for his affirmation of life and for enriching our world with his love of storytelling", the jury report read. "His work chronicles the force used by oppressive regimes to destroy entire societies while also celebrating the indestructible spirit of resistance displayed by individual human beings", it continued.

The author has lived under threat for his life since Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwah against him in 1989 following the publication of "The Satanic Verses", which Khomeini said insulted Islam.    (dpa)