Salman Rushdie attacker Hadi Matar charged with supporting terrorist group Hezbollah
CBSJul 25
Rushdie Attacker Charged With Supporting Militant Group Hezbollah
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The Facts
Hadi Matar, the man accused of attempting to kill author Salman Rushdie, has been charged with terrorism for allegedly acting on behalf of the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah, according to an indictment unsealed on Wednesday.
Matar, a 26-year-old American of Lebanese descent, has been held without bail since the 2022 attack, during which he stabbed Rushdie more than a dozen times as the writer was onstage to give a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution in New York, leaving Rushdie blind in one eye.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Matar is a violent criminal who attempted to murder Rushdie on behalf of a violent terrorist organization. By attempting to carry out a fatwa, Matar committed an act of terrorism and should not just be charged with attempted murder but also with terrorism.
Establishment-critical narrative
There is clearly no link between Matar and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Though nothing justifies the brutal attack, it was prompted by Rushdie's book, which is a serious offense to the entire Muslim world. All evidence suggests Matar acted alone.