World News | Man Found Guilty in Terrorism Trial over 2022 Stabbing of Author Salman Rushdie
Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. A US federal jury has convicted 28-year-old Hadi Matar of terrorism offences for the August 2022 stabbing of author Salman Rushdie in New York. Matar, who acted on a long-standing Iranian fatwa after immersing himself in Hezbollah ideology, faces up to life imprisonment when sentenced in November.
New York [US], July 30 (ANI): A 28-year-old man has been convicted in a federal terrorism prosecution stemming from the 2022 stabbing of acclaimed author Salman Rushdie, the United States Department of Justice announced.
A federal jury found Hadi Matar, a resident of Fairview, New Jersey, guilty of attempting to provide material support to Hezbollah, committing an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries, and supplying material support to terrorists, according to an official statement issued by the US Justice Department on Wednesday.
Also Read | US Launches Strikes on Iranian Targets a Day After It Foiled Missile Attack on American Forces.
Addressing the verdict, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg noted that Matar spent "more than a year immersing himself" in the ideology of Hezbollah, a US-designated terrorist group, whilst "preparing to act on a fatwa issued by Iran's Ayatollahs calling for Mr. Rushdie's murder."
"His brutal attack on Mr. Rushdie during a peaceful speaking event is a chilling reminder of the global reach of Iranian terrorism. With today's verdict, justice has been done, and Matar will pay for his crimes," Eisenberg added.
Also Read | Happy International Friendship Day 2026: Wishes, Quotes, Greeting Messages and HD Wallpapers.
The assault transpired in August 2022 in New York, where Rushdie was struck in the neck moments before he was scheduled to deliver a lecture. The session's co-moderator also sustained injuries during the incident; however, Rushdie suffered severe wounds that necessitated placement on life-support equipment.
The veteran writer's late-1980s novel, "The Satanic Verses," sparked widespread international outrage after sections were deemed blasphemous by sections of the Muslim community. In 1989, Iran's former Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini proclaimed a fatwa instructing Muslims to execute Rushdie over the publication.
Evidentiary material presented by government prosecutors demonstrated that Matar spent over twelve months investigating the religious decree before executing the knife attack in 2022, according to the Department of Justice.
Matar faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, with formal sentencing scheduled to take place in November. (ANI)
(The above story is verified and authored by ANI staff, ANI is South Asia's leading multimedia news agency with over 100 bureaus in India, South Asia and across the globe. ANI brings the latest news on Politics and Current Affairs in India & around the World, Sports, Health, Fitness, Entertainment, & News. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)