Suspected Rushdie attacker Hadi Matar pleads not guilty
HOUSTON, Texas (AA) – Hadi Matar, the man accused of stabbing award-winning author Salman Rushdie in the US state of New York, pleaded not guilty Thursday to multiple offenses.
Matar, 24, was indicted by a grand jury on second-degree attempted murder and assault. The judge in the case ordered him held without bail.
If convicted, prosecutors said the attempted murder charge carries a penalty of up to 25 years in prison. The assault charge, which pertains to another speaker injured by Matar, carries up to seven years.
Rushdie was about to give a lecture last Friday at the Chautauqua Institution when a man jumped on stage and stabbed him repeatedly. The author suffered stab wounds to his neck, stomach, chest and right eye.
Witnesses said there were no obvious security checks at the lecture and that Matar did not speak as he attacked Rushdie.
Matar was arrested by a New York State Police trooper after being subdued by audience members.
Investigators have not released a motive for the attack.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
