A man who blinded author Salman Rushdie’s right eye by attacking him went on trial for transnational terrorism charges in a federal court. The attacker, Hadi Matar, aimed to fulfill the Iranian religious edict demanding Rushdie’s killing due to his novel Satanic Verses being deemed blasphemous. Matar, a US citizen of Lebanese descent, previously received a 25-year prison sentence for attempting to murder Rushdie in a New York State court.
Matar now confronts federal terrorism charges under a distinct set of laws, separate from his prior conviction. In the US, individuals can face both state and federal charges for a single offense under different statutes. If found guilty of terrorism, Matar could potentially be sentenced to life imprisonment. The trial is being held in Buffalo, close to the Canada border, where the attack on Rushdie occurred during a literary event at the Chautauqua Institution in 2022.
Despite the conspiracy charges, Matar denies any involvement beyond acting on his own beliefs. His lawyer stated that Matar, driven by religious fervor, was incensed against Rushdie. The fatwa against Rushdie was issued by the late Ayatollah Khomeini, prompting Rushdie to seek refuge under British government protection for several years. Rushdie, now residing in the US with an eyepatch covering his injured eye, is anticipated to testify during the trial. He has authored a memoir titled Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder, recounting the attack and its aftermath.
