Man Charged in Salman Rushdie Attack Linked to Hezbollah

Hadi Matar, 26, is set to stand trial for the stabbing of acclaimed author Salman Rushdie, which occurred on August 12, 2022, at the Chautauqua Institution. Rushdie was preparing to deliver a lecture when Matar attacked him, resulting in life-threatening injuries that required emergency surgery. Matar has rejected a plea deal that would have involved pleading guilty to a federal terrorism-related charge, which has not yet been filed. The case has seen a minor delay following the release of Rushdie's memoir, "Knife," which recounts his harrowing experience during the attack. Matar faces serious charges, including attempted murder and assault, and has now been indicted on additional charges of attempting to support Hezbollah, the Lebanese terrorist organization backed by Iran. Authorities have seized multiple electronic devices and weapons from Matar's possession as part of the investigation. Matar has stated that his motivation for the attack stemmed from the fatwa issued against Rushdie in 1989 by Iran’s Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which called for the author's death due to the controversial novel "The Satanic Verses." This fatwa has led to ongoing threats against Rushdie, with Iranian clerics periodically increasing the bounty on his life, which currently stands at nearly $4 million. As the trial approaches, the case continues to draw significant media attention, highlighting issues of free speech, religious extremism, and the ongoing repercussions of the fatwa that has haunted Rushdie for decades.