Salman Rushdie, The Satanic Verses author once hunted like an animal after a fatwa was issued against his life by Iranian religious leaders, is now in charge of the PEN.

PEN, an international writers group, has named the Indian-born writer president of the PEN American Center.

PEN supported him while he was on the run, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer. "I'm very grateful for what PEN did, and it's nice to put something back in," Rushdie said.

Rushdie, 56, said he aims to attract more young people and to focus more on concerns in the United States: "We've spent a lot of time highlighting abuses from all over the world, and now I think it's appropriate to look at what's going on in this country." He said he's concerned about freedom of speech since 9-11.