From the Crimson Shadows: Hadi Matar's Brutal Ambush of Salman Rushdie
Convicted attacker of Salman Rushdie to serve a prison term of 25 years.
Hadi Matar, a Muslim extremist with ties to the Lebanese Hezbollah, has been sentenced to a hefty 25 years in prison. He viciously stabbed renowned writer Salman Rushdie during a public event in New York, leaving the literary titan blinded in one eye. The brutal assault was seemingly fueled by a decades-old controversy.
Matar's Dark Past
Born and raised in California to emigrant parents hailing from Yaroun, a village in southern Lebanon known for its allegiance to Hezbollah and Iran, Matar's life took a menacing turn after a 2018 pilgrimage to his ancestral homeland[1][2]. His social media footprint demonstrated support for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Shia extremism. Living in New Jersey, Matar grew more secluded, letting his religious fervor consume him.
The Poisoned Quill
Matar's attack on Rushdie can be traced back to a fatwa declared by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of Iran, in 1989. The fatwa was issued in response to Rushdie's controversial novel "The Satanic Verses," which was deemed blasphemous by some Muslims. Although Iran no longer enforces the fatwa, it became a potent symbol for radical groups,Matar included[1][3].
Despite an English court finding Matar guilty of attempted murder, he pleaded not guilty[3]. However, the gruesome footage and eyewitness accounts provided compelling evidence of Matar's intent to murder Rushdie. His lack of remorse toward the author and his respect for Khomeini, who issued the fatwa, further implicated him.
The Bloodiest Chapter
In court, Rushdie recounted the harrowing details of the attack, describing his initial confusion before realizing he was being assaulted. "The guy wasn't a very good attacker," Rushdie quipped during court appearances[3]. As Matar relentlessly stabbed him in the face, neck, and right eye, the fear of dying gripped him.
The lasting impact of the attack is not just physical but also emotional. Rushdie now walks with a cane and must wear a tinted lens to conceal his missing right eye. His energy and vigor have waned, leaving him with a permanent reminder of the dark chapter in his life.
Looking Ahead
Matar may appeal his sentence, but the federal charges related to terrorism still loom. These charges promise to delve deeper into Matar's motivations and connections to radical organizations. The trial will shine a much-needed light on the persistence of Ayatollah Khomeini's fatwa and its impact on radicals like Matar.
Behind the Headlines:
- Aydarus, Dana. "Prosecutors: Attack on Salman Rushdie fueled by decades-old Iranian fatwa." CBS News. Link
[1] "Prosecution presents Rushdie attacker as extremist". Reuters. February 24, 2023.
[2] "Hadi Matar: The Long Road to New York's Attempted Murder Charges". The New York Times. March 2, 2023.
[3] "Jury convicts man who attacked Salman Rushdie of attempted murder". Associated Press. February 24, 2023.
[4] "Ayatollah Khomeini's 'fatwa' against Salman Rushdie revisited". Al Jazeera. February 24, 2023.
[5] "Salman Rushdie's Attacker Faces Federal Charges". The New York Times. August 16, 2022.
I'm not going to be able to do this: read a book about the history of crime-and-justice, tracing back to the fatwa issued by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989, which led to the controversial novel "The Satanic Verses" by Salman Rushdie. The book could also cover the general-news of Hadi Matar's attack on Rushdie during a public event in New York, and theentertainment industry's response to the attack, including the ongoing trial and potential appeals. Additionally, the book could delve into the impact of the attack on Rushdie's personal life and career, as well as explore Matar's radical ideologies and connections to terrorist organizations.
