Salman Rushdie’s attacker pleads not guilty to attempted murder
US: A 24-year old New Jersey man charged with attempted murder and assault for attacking author Salman Rushdie has pleaded not guilty. Rushdie was on a ventilator and is likely to lose an eye after undergoing surgery.
Hadi Matar of Fairview, New Jersey was arraigned in centralised arraignment on Saturday and was remanded without bail at Chautauqua County Jail.
Matar was arrested Friday by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation for attempted murder 2nd degree (B Felony) and assault 2nd degree.
Matar was processed at State Police Jamestown and transported to Chautauqua County Jail. Matar was arraigned in centralised arraignment on Saturday and “remanded without bail to the Chautauqua County Jail,” the New York State Police said in a statement.
 Author Salman Rushdie is tended to after he was attacked during a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, in New York on Friday. |
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden expressed shock over the “vicious attack” on Salman Rushdie and said that he pray for his health and recovery.
In his statement praising the first responders, Biden said that he is grateful to the first responders and the brave individuals who jumped into action to render aid to the author.
Meanwhile, Rushdie, the 75-year-old Mumbai-born writer has faced Islamist death threats for years after writing “The Satanic Verses”.
Rushdie had previously complained about having too much security around him, according to a media report on Saturday.
In 2001, Rushdie publicly complained about having too much security around him, The New York Post reported.
While attending the Prague Writers’ Festival, he told reporters, “To be here and to find a large security operation around me has actually felt a little embarrassing… I thought it was really unnecessary and kind of excessive and was certainly not arranged at my request.”
Meanwhile, several hardline newspapers in the country on Saturday openly praised the 24-year-old attacker. Rushdie’s novel had drawn death threats from Iran since 1989.
The Kayhan newspaper, wrote, “A thousand bravos … to the brave and dutiful person who attacked the apostate and evil Salman Rushdie in New York.” It added, “The hand of the man who tore the neck of God’s enemy must be kissed”.
– THE HINDUSTAN TIMES