Sunday 14 August 2022 10:43 AM Harry Potter film studio Warner Bros condemns death threat against JK Rowling ... trends now
Harry Potter film studio Warner Bros has condemned a death threat sent to JK Rowling from an Iran-supporting Islamic extremist who tweeted 'you are next' in response to her support for stabbed author Salman Rushdie - as police launch a probe into the tweet.
Ms Rowling, 57, received a harrowing threat from Meer Asif Aziz, based in Karachi, who described himself on Twitter as a 'student, social activist, political activist and research activist'.
The Harry Potter writer and free speech campaigner - who has been pilloried by trans activists for her beliefs on gender - had expressed her horror at the sickening attempt on Rushdie's life in upstate New York when she was issued the chilling threat on Twitter.
Police have now said they are investigating a report of an 'online threat' made against the author and officers are 'carrying out enquiries'.
And today Warner Bros also gave its support to Ms Rowling, adding that it stands by its authors and creators who 'bravely express their creativity and opinions'.
A statement added: 'Warner Bros. Discovery strongly condemns the threats made against JK Rowling.
'We stand with her and all the authors, storytellers and creators who bravely express their creativity and opinions.
'WBD believes in freedom of expression, peaceful discourse and supporting those who offer their views in the public arena.
'Our thoughts are with Sir Salman Rushdie and his family following the senseless act of violence in New York.
'The company strongly condemns any form of threat, violence or intimidation when opinions, beliefs and thoughts might differ.'
It comes after the CEO of the Warner Bros. Discovery said in May he would meet with Ms Rowling to discuss new Harry Potter content amid a slew of rapid fire changes meant to cut costs and gin up revenue.
David Zaslav, 62, took over the combined company in April and has already ruffled feathers with his no-nonsense approach.
British author JK Rowling has received a death threat on Twitter after Salman Rushdie was stabbed
Meer Asif Aziz describes as a 'student, social activist, political activist and research activist' based in Karachi
The Harry Potter writer said on Twitter last night: 'Horrifying news. Feeling very sick right now. Let him be ok'. She received the chilling reply: 'Don't worry you are next'
The Harry Potter writer and free speech campaigner - who has been pilloried by trans activists for her beliefs on gender - had expressed her horror at the sickening attempt on Rushdie's life in upstate New York when she was issued the chilling threat on Twitter, only to receive a response from the extremist
JK Rowling's death threat from an Iran-supporting Islamic extremist did not violate Twitter's rules after the vile troll warned 'you are next' in response to her support of stabbed author Salman Rushdie
Twtitter sent JK Rowling an email explaining there were 'no violations of the Twitter rules in the content you reported'
Hadi Matar, 24, has been charged with the attempted murder and assault of author Salman Rushdie. Pictured arriving at Chautauqua County Courthouse in Mayville, New York
Aziz has previously made tasteless 'jokes' about how to destroy Israel, branding it a Putin-savaged Ukraine, and has labelled the country and Pakistan's chief geopolitical rival India 'terrorist states'.
Ms Rowling has revealed that after reporting the vile threat to Twitter, the social media network concluded that the extremist did not violate its rules.
The email from Twitter read: 'After reviewing the available information, we determined that there were no violations of the Twitter rules in the content you reported. We appreciate your help and encourage you to reach out again in the future if you see any potential violations.'
The 57-year-old posted a screenshot of the response, commenting: 'These are your guidelines, right? "Violence: You may not threaten violence against an individual or a group of people. We also prohibit the glorification of violence... "Terrorism/violent extremism: You may not threaten or promote terrorism"...'
Aziz also appears to support the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who frequently rants about Israel in deranged, genocidal tweets. In one of Khamenei's posts about the 'oppressive Yazidis', for instance, Aziz responded with a heart emoji.
And responding to another tweet from the Iranian dictator, Aziz gushed : 'Dear leader your struggle for Islamic world will not be wasted until we young generation are with you'.
Rowling, 57, had posted last night about Rushdie's stabbing: 'Horrifying news. Feeling very sick right now. Let him be ok'.
Aziz, who had described Rushdie's attacker Hadi Matar, 24, as a 'revolutionary Shia fighter', then threatened: 'Don't worry you are next'.
In a bid to get Aziz booted off Twitter, Rowling yesterday afternoon posted: '@TwitterSupport any chance of some support?'. Critics have accused the social media giant of 'double standards' over which accounts it chooses to kick off the site.
Twitter dramatically chose to shut down Donald Trump's account after the invasion of the US Capitol by a mob wearing MAGA caps following the 2020 election - dubbed January 6 - but still allows Khamenei to make threats against Israel.
Rowling also confirmed that police are involved, telling her followers: 'To all sending supportive messages: thank you. Police are involved (were already involved on other threats).'
MailOnline has contacted Twitter for comment.
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