We reported that author Salman Rushdie was attacked in Chautauqua (New York) on Friday as he was about give a lecture. When he was standing on the podium, a black man rushed to him and started stabbing and beating his head.
This man was identified now as Hadi Matear (24), Fairview, New Jersey.
Officials have just revealed that Salman Rushdie was stabbed “at least once in the neck and at least once in the abdomen.” Rushdie was “at minimum once in his neck and at most once in his abdomen.” https://t.co/TML9Ty3QS0 pic.twitter.com/3W3xcZtZUs
— ABC News (@ABC) August 12, 2022
People in the crowd took him down and arrested him.
Rushdie attacker is Hadi Matar, ‘New Jersey man with sympathies toward the Iranian government’ https://t.co/rOhywzQtmK pic.twitter.com/nI12281WUS
— Robert Spencer روبرت سبنسر रॉबर्ट स्पेंसर 🇺🇸 (@jihadwatchRS) August 12, 2022
He had many Iranian connections on his Facebook, including photos of Qasem Andalusi and the Ayatollah. According to the NY Post, Matar made posts in support of Iran and its Revolutionary Guard, and in support of Shi’a extremism more broadly.
.@nyspoliceWe are trying to secure search warrants on properties linked to Hadi Matar the suspected Rushdie attacker to aid our investigation. Matar obtained a pass that allowed him to remain on the Chautauqua Institution grounds.
— Aaron Katersky (@AaronKatersky) August 12, 2022
Rushdie suffered a double stab wound in his neck and abdomen. He was then airlifted from the airport to the hospital.
Salman Rushdie was transported to the hospital via a medical helicopter.
Salman Rushdie, an author, was assaulted after he took the podium at a Chautauqua Institute function.Police have taken this man into custody.#NYPD#SalmanRushdie #Newyork pic.twitter.com/M2xt3nicbh
— Chaudhary Parvez (@ChaudharyParvez) August 12, 2022
The doctor who was in the audience and attended to him on the stage, Dr. Martin Haskell, described the wounds as “serious but recoverable,” which is good news.
Henry Reese, the event moderator, and co-founder a non-profit that grants residencies in order to help writers under persecution was also attacked. Police said that Reese sustained a facial injury, was treated at a hospital and then released. Rushdie and Reese were scheduled to talk about the United States’ role as refuge for exile writers and artists.
A state trooper and a county sheriff’s deputy were assigned to Rushdie’s lecture, and state police said the trooper made the arrest. But after the attack, some longtime visitors to the center questioned why there wasn’t tighter security for the event, given the decades of threats against Rushdie and a bounty on his head offering more than $3 million for anyone who kills him.
The Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini declared a fatwa in 1989, calling for Rushdie’s death for writing his book, “The Satanic Verses,” which the Ayatollah declared blasphemous. Iran’s present “Supreme Leader” Ayatollah Khameini reminded everyone in 2019 the fatwa was still on.
Reminder:
On February 19, 2019, the Office of #Iran‘s dictator Ali Khamenei reiterated the fatwa calling for Rushdie’s assassination, repeating the terms “solid & irrevocable” that Khamenei used in 1990.A reminder
Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. pic.twitter.com/85PH6zpoGy— Heshmat Alavi (@HeshmatAlavi) August 12, 2022
There is currently a $3.3 million bounty on Rushdie’s head. It was the reason he went into cover for so many years. He had security but has lived in total security since then. He said that the only way you defeat terrorism is “by deciding not to be afraid.”
At least 45 people were killed in riots over the book, including 12 people in Rushdie’s hometown of Mumbai. The book’s Japanese translator, who was also stabbed to death in 1991, and the translator from Italy were both saved by knife attacks. In 1993, the book’s Norwegian publisher was shot three times and survived.
The IRGC also has acknowledged the attack and threatened both President Donald Trump and John Bolton “even if many years pass.”
#UPDATE#IranThis video was posted by IRGC Telegram and shows Khomeini’s historic ruling for Salman Rushdie’s murder.
“When the date and time comes, Trump & Bolton will see the fate as Salman Rushdie. Even if many years pass…” the IRGC Telegram post adds. pic.twitter.com/IrJPXnBupm
— Heshmat Alavi (@HeshmatAlavi) August 12, 2022
Fatwa is more ancient than attacker.
Just a couple days ago we covered the arrest of an Iranian agent who planned to murder Bolton. Trump is also hated by the IRGC because he killed Qasem Solimani.