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Hadi Matar, 24, was arrested after he stormed the stage at the Chautauqua Institution in Western New York and allegedly stabbed the author in the neck.</blockquote></ref> Described by eyewitnesses as viciously stabbing, repeatedly.<ref>[https://www.deccanherald.com/international/salman-rushdie-in-surgery-after-being-stabbed-onstage-suspect-arrested-1135716.html Salman Rushdie in surgery after being stabbed onstage; suspect arrested], AFP, Aug 13, 2022.<blockquote>Carl LeVan, an American University politics professor attending the event, told AFP he saw the suspect run onto the stage where Rushdie was seated and "stabbed him repeatedly and viciously."</blockquote></ref>

Hadi Matar, 24, was arrested after he stormed the stage at the Chautauqua Institution in Western New York and allegedly stabbed the author in the neck.</blockquote></ref> Described by eyewitnesses as viciously stabbing, repeatedly.<ref>[https://www.deccanherald.com/international/salman-rushdie-in-surgery-after-being-stabbed-onstage-suspect-arrested-1135716.html Salman Rushdie in surgery after being stabbed onstage; suspect arrested], AFP, Aug 13, 2022.<blockquote>Carl LeVan, an American University politics professor attending the event, told AFP he saw the suspect run onto the stage where Rushdie was seated and "stabbed him repeatedly and viciously."</blockquote></ref>

Matar was charged with second-degree attempted murder and assault.<ref>Paul P. Murphy, Aya Elamroussi, Nicki Brown, Samantha Beech, Liam Reilly and Ray Sanchez, [https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2022/08/13/us/salman-rushdie-attacked-saturday/index.html Suspect in Salman Rushdie attack pleads not guilty to second-degree attempted murder and assault charges, attorney says], CNN, Aug 14, 2022.</ref>

Matar was charged with second-degree attempted murder and assault.<ref>Paul P. Murphy, Aya Elamroussi, Nicki Brown, Samantha Beech, Liam Reilly and Ray Sanchez, [https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2022/08/13/us/salman-rushdie-attacked-saturday/index.html Suspect in Salman Rushdie attack pleads not guilty to second-degree attempted murder and assault charges, attorney says], ''CNN'', Aug 14, 2022.</ref>

===Reaction to stabbing===

===Reaction to stabbing===

Hadi Matar was immediately praised by pro Iran, Hezbollah as a Lebanese hero.<ref>[https://www.algemeiner.com/2022/08/12/a-lebanese-hero-iranian-outlet-praises-assailant-behind-attempted-murder-of-novelist-salman-rushdie A 'Lebanese Hero': Iranian Outlet Praises Assailant Behind Attempted Murder of Novelist Salman Rushdie], Algemeiner,  Aug 12, 2022</ref>

Hadi Matar was immediately praised by pro Iran, Hezbollah as a Lebanese hero.<ref>[https://www.algemeiner.com/2022/08/12/a-lebanese-hero-iranian-outlet-praises-assailant-behind-attempted-murder-of-novelist-salman-rushdie A 'Lebanese Hero': Iranian Outlet Praises Assailant Behind Attempted Murder of Novelist Salman Rushdie], ''Algemeiner'',  Aug 12, 2022</ref>

Later on, Hezbollah Supporters Celebrate 'Holy Stabbing,'<ref>"Hezbollah Supporters Celebrate 'Holy Stabbing' of Salman Rushdie", Asharq Al-Awsat, Aug 14, 2022.</ref>

Later on, Hezbollah Supporters Celebrate 'Holy Stabbing,'<ref>"Hezbollah Supporters Celebrate 'Holy Stabbing' of Salman Rushdie", ''Asharq Al-Awsat'', Aug 14, 2022.</ref>

Iranian Newspaper praised Salman Rushdie's attacker.<ref>[https://www.thedailybeast.com/iranian-newspapers-celebrate-attack-on-salman-rushdie-by-suspect-hadi-matar-in-new-york Iranian Newspaper Praises Salman Rushdie's Attacker], ''The Daily Beast'', Aug 13, 2022.</ref>

Iranian Newspaper praised Salman Rushdie's attacker.<ref>[https://www.thedailybeast.com/iranian-newspapers-celebrate-attack-on-salman-rushdie-by-suspect-hadi-matar-in-new-york Iranian Newspaper Praises Salman Rushdie's Attacker], ''The Daily Beast'', Aug 13, 2022.</ref>

Activists accused Iran of responsibility for attack.<ref>[https://amp.france24.com/en/live-news/20220813-activists-accuse-iran-of-responsibility-for-rushdie-attack Activists accused Iran of responsibility for Rushdie attack], AFP,  France 24. Aug 13, 2023.<blockquote>

Activists accused Iran of responsibility for attack.<ref>[https://amp.france24.com/en/live-news/20220813-activists-accuse-iran-of-responsibility-for-rushdie-attack Activists accused Iran of responsibility for Rushdie attack], ''AFP'',  France 24. Aug 13, 2022.<blockquote>

While the fatwa issued by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini over Rushdie's novel "The Satanic Verses" has for some time not been part of daily discourse in Iran, the clerical leadership under his successor Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also did nothing to indicate it no longer stood and on occasions underlined the decree was still valid.

While the fatwa issued by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini over Rushdie's novel "The Satanic Verses" has for some time not been part of daily discourse in Iran, the clerical leadership under his successor Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also did nothing to indicate it no longer stood and on occasions underlined the decree was still valid.

The multiple stabbing of Rushdie at an event in New York comes at an intensely sensitive time for Iran, as it considers an offer by world powers to revive the 2015 deal on its nuclear programme which would ease sanctions that have battered the economy.

The multiple stabbing of Rushdie at an event in New York comes at an intensely sensitive time for Iran, as it considers an offer by world powers to revive the 2015 deal on its nuclear programme which would ease sanctions that have battered the economy.

===On Hadi Matar===

===On Hadi Matar===

The Arab Islamist, born to [[Lebanon|Lebanese]] immigrants, expressed pro Shiite fanaticism, strong sympathy to the [[Iran]]ian leader and [[IRGC]],<ref name=nypost-12aug2022/> Kassem Solemani.<ref>[https://www.freepressjournal.in/world/who-is-hadi-matar-the-24-year-old-who-attacked-salman-rushdie Who is Hadi Matar, the 24-year-old who attacked Salman Rushdie?], FPJ in. Aug 13, 2022.

The Arab Islamist, born to [[Lebanon|Lebanese]] immigrants, expressed pro Shiite fanaticism, strong sympathy to the [[Iran]]ian leader and [[IRGC]],<ref name=nypost-12aug2022/> [[Qasem Soleimani]].<ref>[https://www.freepressjournal.in/world/who-is-hadi-matar-the-24-year-old-who-attacked-salman-rushdie Who is Hadi Matar, the 24-year-old who attacked Salman Rushdie?], FPJ in. Aug 13, 2022.

<blockquote>...expressed viewpoints sympathetic to the cause of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC). Investigators reportedly found images of Iranian commander Qassem Solemani, who was assassinated in 2020, in a cell phone messaging app belonging to Matar.</blockquote></ref>

<blockquote>...expressed viewpoints sympathetic to the cause of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC). Investigators reportedly found images of Iranian commander Qassem Solemani, who was assassinated in 2020, in a cell phone messaging app belonging to Matar.</blockquote></ref>

In addition, Hadi Matar retweeted an image of a big knife and the words: "The knife, Zion," on May 5, 2022.<ref>ACOM @ACOM_es:<blockquote>

In addition, Hadi Matar retweeted an image of a big knife and the words: "The knife, Zion," on May 5, 2022.<ref>ACOM @ACOM_es:<blockquote>