The DOJ indicated that Mr. Matar was trying to carry out a fatwa, or edict, endorsed by Hezbollah, in his attack against Mr. Rushdie.
“Violence directed at Americans for exercising their First Amendment rights will never be tolerated,” said Mr. Wray, adding that the “FBI will work with our partners to pursue and hold accountable those who resort to violence.”
Mr. Rushdie was targeted for decades after he wrote the book, “The Satanic Verses,” and was accused of insulting the Islamic faith.
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The author was attacked in New York in 2022, allegedly by Mr. Matar. He survived but lost an eye.
“The Justice Department will prosecute those who perpetrate violence in the name of terrorist groups and undermine the basic freedoms enshrined in our Constitution.”
Mr. Matar, according to court documents, attempted to provide material support and resources to the designated terrorist group Hezbollah between September 2020 and August 2022 by carrying out a fatwa, which called for the execution of Mr. Rushdie.
“This defendant put time and effort into traveling to the Western District of New York with the intent of taking the life of another,” said U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross for the Western District of New York in a press statement.
According to the DOJ, Mr. Matar was partly motivated by a 2006 speech given by Hezbollah secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah, in which he endorsed the original fatwa from 1989 calling for Mr. Rushdie’s death.
If convicted, Mr. Matar faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Can you please rewrite this sentence?
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