Salman Rushdie Attacker Faces Terrorism Charges

Federal prosecutors have brought terrorism charges against Hadi Matar, the man accused of stabbing author Salman Rushdie in 2022, escalating the legal proceedings surrounding the high-profile attack.

At a glance:

• Matar indicted on three federal terrorism-related counts
• Charges include attempting to support Hezbollah, a foreign terrorist organization
• Matar previously pleaded not guilty to state attempted murder charges
• If convicted on federal charges, Matar could face life in prison

Federal Indictment Unsealed

An unsealed grand jury indictment revealed new federal terrorism charges against Hadi Matar, the 26-year-old man accused of stabbing author Salman Rushdie in August 2022. The charges include attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, committing terrorism transcending national boundaries, and providing material support to terrorists.

Allegations of Terrorist Ties

According to the indictment, prosecutors allege that Matar attempted to provide material support and resources to Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group backed by Iran. The document accuses Matar of knowingly attempting to kill and maim a person within the United States as part of this alleged support for terrorism. However, the indictment does not provide specific details on the evidence linking Matar to Hezbollah.

Legal Proceedings and Defense

Matar has pleaded not guilty to the new federal charges, according to his attorney Nathaniel Barone. The accused reportedly rejected a recent plea deal that would have combined state and federal charges while potentially reducing his prison sentence. Jury selection for the state case is scheduled for October 15, 2024, with the federal and state cases proceeding to trial separately.

The Attack

The charges stem from the August 2022 attack on Salman Rushdie at the Chautauqua Institution in New York. Rushdie, who was 75 at the time, suffered multiple stab wounds and lost sight in one eye as a result of the assault. The attack came more than three decades after Iran’s Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa calling for Rushdie’s death following the publication of his novel “The Satanic Verses.”