Rushdie remains hospitalized after suffering serious injuries, including damage to his liver, and severed nerves in an arm and an eye.

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Aatish Taseer, a fellow author, tweeted on Saturday that Rushdie was “off the ventilator and talking (and joking).” Rushdie’s agent confirmed the news.

Earlier on Saturday, Rushdie’s accused attacker pleaded not guilty after allegedly stabbing the author 15 times.

Hadi Matar, 24, was accused of attempted murder and assault after inflicting the horrific attack while Rushdie was on stage preparing to deliver a lecture.

An attorney for Matar today entered the not-guilty plea on his behalf during an arraignment hearing in New York.

Matar appeared in court wearing a black and white jumpsuit and a white face mask. His hands were cuffed in front of him.

He was arraigned on the charges last night and remanded without bail, said the Chautauqua Co. DA’s office. New York state police said on Saturday that Matar of Fairview, New Jersey, was being detained at Chautauqua County Jail.

The bloody attack upon the author was met with shock and outrage from much of the world, along with tributes and praise for the award-winning author who for more than 30 years has faced death threats for his novel The Satanic Verses.

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