Hadi Matar, 24, denies charges of attempted murder and assault after the author was seriously injured as he was about to give a speech at New York state’s Chautauqua last Friday. The 75-year-old Indian-born Briton has been receiving threats on his life for decades since then-Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa, or edict, in 1989 calling for Sir Salman’s assassination. It came after his 1988 novel, The Satanic Verses, was deemed blasphemous by some Muslims. Image: Matar is pictured appearing in court on August 13. Photo: AP Speaking to the New York Post from the Chautauqua County Jail, Matar said of Rushdie: “When I heard he survived, I was surprised, I guess.” He also said: “I don’t like the man. I don’t think he’s a very good person. I don’t like him. I don’t like him very much. “He’s someone who attacked Islam, attacked their beliefs, their belief systems.” According to the Post, Matar continued: “I respect the ayatollah. I think he’s a wonderful person. That’s all I’ll say about it.” He noted that he “read only a few pages” of Sir Salman’s controversial novel. He would not say whether he was inspired by the late ayatollah, citing a warning from his lawyer. Sir Salman was stabbed about 12 times, including in the face and neck, as he entered the Chautauqua Foundation, local officials said. A preliminary review of Matar’s social media showed he had sympathies for Shiite extremism and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to NBC News, citing a law enforcement official with direct knowledge of the investigation. Image: Sir Salman Rushdie has had death threats for decades The defendant, from Fairview, New Jersey, who appeared in court, denied any contact with the Revolutionary Guards and said he was inspired to go to Chautauqua after seeing a tweet announcing Sir Salman’s visit sometime in the winter. He described how he took a bus to Buffalo the day before he allegedly stabbed Rushdie and then took a taxi to Chautauqua. “It’s a nice place,” he said of the institution. “I was pretty much around. I wasn’t doing anything specific, I was just walking around,” he added, saying he slept on the grass Thursday night. “I was just out all the time.” Follow The Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the writer provoked the knife attack that left him with life-changing injuries. One knife pierced his eye and another pierced his liver, the Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office said. Sir Salman was also stabbed elsewhere in his abdomen and chest. His son said Sunday that his father “was able to say a few words” and that he retains his “usual lively and defiant sense of humor.” Zafar Rushdie said Sir Salman remained in a “critical condition” but was taken off the ventilator on Saturday. Police said event co-ordinator Henry Rees suffered a minor head injury after he was also attacked.
