Man Accused of Stabbing , Salman Rushdie , Pleads Not Guilty.
On August 18, the man accused of stabbing
award-winning author Salman Rushdie
pleaded not guilty in a New York courtroom.
CNN reports that 24-year-old
Hadi Matar faces charges of second-degree
attempted murder and second-degree assault.
According to prosecutors on the case,
the attempted murder charge carries
a penalty of up to 25 years in prison. .
The assault charge, which relates to
another speaker injured in the attack,
would carry up to seven years in prison.
On August 12, Rushdie was about to give
a lecture when an assailant jumped
on stage and repeatedly stabbed him.
Authorities said the 75-year-old author suffered three
stab wounds to his neck, four stab wounds to his
stomach and injuries to his eye, chest and thigh.
Ralph Henry Reese, another speaker
at the event, was also taken to a local hospital
after suffering a facial injury in the attack.
CNN reports that Rushdie has previously
received death threats for his 1988
satirical novel, 'The Satanic Verses.'.
In 1989, late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini
described the book as an insult to Islam and issued
a religious decree, or fatwa, calling for Rushdie's death.
In 1989, late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini
described the book as an insult to Islam and issued
a religious decree, or fatwa, calling for Rushdie's death.
Rushdie has lived under British protection
since the fatwa calling for his death
was issued over 30 years ago.
Appalled that Sir Salman Rushdie
has been stabbed while exercising
a right we should never cease to defend. , Boris Johnson, British Prime Minister, via CNN