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Jury Convicts Salman Rushdie Attacker of Terrorism
🇲🇽 Mexico /Conflict & Security

Jury Convicts Salman Rushdie Attacker of Terrorism

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • A U.S. federal jury convicted Hadi Matar of terrorism for the 2022 attack on author Salman Rushdie.
  • Matar was also found guilty of supporting Hezbollah, with investigators finding materials linked to the group at his home.
  • He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, with sentencing scheduled for November 3.

A federal jury in the United States has found Hadi Matar guilty of terrorism for the brutal attack on novelist Salman Rushdie in August 2022. Matar, a 28-year-old American of Lebanese descent, was convicted of committing a terrorist act during the assault at a New York cultural center.

Investigators discovered materials associated with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, at Matar's residence. This led to his additional conviction for supporting the organization. Federal prosecutor Michael DiGiacomo stated that Matar chose to align his values with the terrorist ideology of Iran's leadership.

Matar decided to align his values with the terrorist values of Iran's leaders.

— Michael DiGiacomoThe federal prosecutor explains the prosecution's view of Matar's motivations.

The prosecution detailed that Matar spent months meticulously planning the stabbing. The attack left Rushdie, author of "The Satanic Verses," nearly blind in one eye. The assault was reportedly carried out in response to a 1989 fatwa issued by Iran's then-leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, calling for Rushdie's assassination over alleged blasphemy.

Matar is now facing a potential maximum sentence of life imprisonment. This federal trial followed a state court conviction where he was previously found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to 25 years. Sentencing for the federal charges is scheduled to take place on November 3.

The gentleman spent more than a year immersing himself in Hezbollah's violent ideology and preparing to act on this fatwa.

— John A. EisenbergAn assistant U.S. attorney describes Matar's alleged radicalization and planning process.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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