The man who allegedly stabbed Salman Rushdie on stage at an event in New York said he was surprised to learn the renowned author was alive following the attack.
Hadi Matar, 24, said Salman, 75, was someone who attacked Islam but did not confirm that his actions were driven by a fatwa issued by Iran in the 1980s.
Matar pleaded not guilty through his lawyer to charges stemming from the assault and is currently being held at Chautauqua County Jail, in New York State.
He is due to appear in court again on Friday.
Speaking to the New York Post in a video interview from jail, he said: When I heard he survived, I was surprised, I guess.
Matar said he had originally planned to go to the event at the Chautauqua Institution after seeing a tweet announcing Salmans appearance.
I dont like the person. I dont think hes a very good person. I dont like him very much.
Hes someone who attacked Islam, he attacked their beliefs, the belief systems, he said.
Salman published his famous novel The Satanic Verses in 1988, which resulted in Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issuing a fatwa, or edict, calling for his death in 1989.
But Matar told the New York Post he had only read a couple of pages of the book and did not say whether the fatwa had inspired him.
I respect the Ayatollah. I think hes a great person. Thats as far as I will say about that, he said.
It comes as the moderator of the event said his concern is for the writer himself, but also what he means in the world.
Henry Reese told the BBC the attack highlighted the values that Sir Salman stands for.
Mr Reese, who sustained severe bruising himself during the incident, said it would be my ideal to one day return to the venue and continue the conversation with Salman.
That would be my ideal to do that, and to see that happen and to not be in any way impeded in doing what we set out to do.
To both show that these values will be defended and that they can be defended, he said.
In spite of his life-changing injuries Salman has retained his usual feisty and defiant sense of humour, his family has said.
The author suffered a damaged liver as well as severed nerve in an arm and an eye, but was taken off a ventilator on Saturday.
