Salman Rushdie attack

Hadi Matar, the 26-year-old accused of stabbing author Salman Rushdie in 2022, has been indicted on federal terrorism charges for allegedly attempting to provide support to Hezbollah and acting on their behalf. The indictment reveals that Matar sought to carry out a fatwa against Rushdie, which was originally issued by Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini in 1989 and endorsed by Hezbollah leaders. Prosecutors describe the attack as an act of terrorism that transcends national boundaries, with Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasizing that Matar's actions were committed in the name of a designated terrorist organization. Matar, who has pleaded not guilty to state charges of attempted murder and assault, faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted on the new federal charges. His trial is set to begin on October 15, 2024, and he is currently awaiting a detention hearing. The Justice Department continues to investigate the case, which highlights broader concerns about terrorism linked to extremist ideologies.