Home · World · Jul 22 archive
The federal trial against Hadi Matar, the man who attempted to kill author Salman Rushdie in August 2022 in New York, United States, opens. If he is convicted, Matar faces a senten
Confirmed
Hadi Matar, already serving 25 years for attempted murder, denies federal charges that could bring a life sentence Hadi Matar, already serving 25 years for attempted murder, denies federal charges that could bring a life sentence The man who stabbed Salman Rushdie in the eye on stage in 2022 is standing trial for a second time – this time facing terrorism charges after being found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison last year.
“Fulfill the fatwa — that’s what Hadi Matar intended to do,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Lynch said in an opening statement at a federal courthouse in Buffalo, New York, about 70 miles (110 km) from the arts and intellectual retreat where Rushdie was assaulted.
Zachary Colvin’s body-camera video was also played and showed Matar informing the trooper he had no weapons in his pockets, admitting he had a fake New Jersey driver’s license, and telling him his real name was Hadi. Court filings further claim Matar corresponded with an Iran-based contact in the months before the stabbing who said he knew “where to find Rushdie”.
In 2024, Rushdie published Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder, a memoir about the attack. Prosecutors contend that Matar’s writings, communications and other materials showed he acted out of loyalty to Iran’s theocratic government and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group; Iran’s late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued the fatwa.
Speaking to The Associated Press outside of court, Barone said the biggest challenge facing prosecutors is determining Matar’s state of mind at the time of the attack. Asked by the defense whether Matar was cooperative as he was being detained, Colvin said: “Initially he did attempt to knee me, but he was cooperative beyond that.
Matar, a US-Lebanese dual citizen born in California, is reported by relatives to have grown withdrawn after visiting his father in Lebanon in 2018. Investigators say Matar’s electronic devices and a personal journal showed detailed research into how an attack might be carried out.
Prosecutors have also argued that Matar was acting in service of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia in Lebanon. Photographs of Khomeini and his successor, Ali Khamenei, were reportedly found in Matar’s New Jersey bedroom.
What's confirmed
- Hadi Matar, already serving 25 years for attempted murder, denies federal charges that could bring a life sentence Hadi Matar, already serving 25 years for attempted murder, denies federal charges that could bring a…
- Hadi Matar, already serving 25 years for attempted murder, denies federal charges that could bring a life sentence Hadi Matar, already serving 25 years for attempted murder, denies federal charges that could bring a life
- “Fulfill the fatwa — that’s what Hadi Matar intended to do,” Assistant U.S.
- Zachary Colvin’s body-camera video was also played and showed Matar informing the trooper he had no weapons in his pockets, admitting he had a fake New Jersey driver’s license, and telling him his real name was Hadi.
- In 2024, Rushdie published Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder, a memoir about the attack.
- Speaking to The Associated Press outside of court, Barone said the biggest challenge facing prosecutors is determining Matar’s state of mind at the time of the attack.
What's still developing
- “Fulfill the fatwa — that’s what Hadi Matar intended to do,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Lynch said in an opening statement at a federal courthouse in Buffalo, New York, about 70 miles (110 km) from the arts and…
- Speaking to The Associated Press outside of court, Barone said the biggest challenge facing prosecutors is determining Matar’s state of mind at the time of the attack.
- Prosecutors contend that Matar’s writings, communications and other materials showed he acted out of loyalty to Iran’s theocratic government and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group; Iran’s late Ayatollah…
- Zachary Colvin’s body-camera video was also played and showed Matar informing the trooper he had no weapons in his pockets, admitting he had a fake New Jersey driver’s license, and telling him his real name was Hadi.
- Asked by the defense whether Matar was cooperative as he was being detained, Colvin said: “Initially he did attempt to knee me, but he was cooperative beyond that.
- Prosecutors have also argued that Matar was acting in service of Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia in Lebanon.
- Matar, a US-Lebanese dual citizen born in California, is reported by relatives to have grown withdrawn after visiting his father in Lebanon in 2018.
- Investigators say Matar’s electronic devices and a personal journal showed detailed research into how an attack might be carried out.