Hezbollah supporter convicted in another Islamic terrorism case in New York

Rushdie is known for his novel The Satanic Verses, referring to the Islamic prophet Muhammad and Islamic Qur’an, prompting the Indian government to ban it in 1988. In 1989, Iran’s Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa and bounty for Rushdie’s murder, referring to the book as illegally blasphemous. In 2006, Hezbollah’s Secretary General, Hassan Nasrallah, endorsed the fatwa. In 2017, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei also issued a fatwa calling for Rushdie’s death.

On Aug. 12, 2022, Matar responded to the fatwa when attempting to murder Rushdie at a speaking engagement at the Chautauqua Institution in Mayville, New York, authorities alleged. Prior to the attack, Matar discussed the fatwa and Hezbollah’s endorsement of i, with individuals living in Iran, Australia, and Canada. He also created videos about the fatwa (“Rushdie_Fatwa 2.0” and “Rushdie_Fatwa 1.6”), which include a 2006 speech in which Nasrallah endorsed the fatwa, according to court documents.

Matar traveled to New York under the name “Hassan Mughniyeh” with a driver’s license of the same false name, authorities said. Hassan represents Hassan Nasrallah and Mughniyeh represents Imad Mughniyeh, the former head of Hezbollah’s External Security Organization who was responsible for planning multiple terrorist attacks, according to the court documents.

Before the attack, Matar also surrounded himself with symbols of Hezbollah martyrs, went on Hezbollah website and took screenshots of Hezbollah martyrs who died that month, investigators said.

“Matar spent more than a year immersing himself in Hizballah’s violent ideology and preparing to act on a fatwa issued by Iran’s Ayatollahs calling for Mr. Rushdie’s murder,” Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg said in a statement. “His brutal attack on Mr. Rushdie during a peaceful speaking event is a chilling reminder of the global reach of Iranian terrorism.”

Matar “chose to align his values with the terroristic values of the leaders of Iran … spending months planning and preparing to carry out what he hoped would be the execution of Salman Rushdie and possibly follow in the footsteps of martyrs he admired,” U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo for the Western District of New York said. “Instead, his attempted act of terror failed, and Salman Rushdie survived, thanks to courageous members of the public and law enforcement, who saved Rushdie and captured Matar.” 

Matar faces life in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for November. 

The FBI Buffalo Field Office and New York State Police investigated the case with assistance from the FBI Newark, NJ Field Office and Bergen County NJ Prosecutor’s Office.

The attack was one of many Islamic-related attacks that occurred during the Biden administration, which also released at least 18,000 suspected terrorists into the country, The Center Square reported.

The Trump administration has been targeting threats from Iran in the U.S., including prosecuting Iranians providing technology to the Iranian military used to kill U.S. service members and arresting hundreds of Iranians who illegally entered the U.S.

Nationwide, federal prosecutors have been prosecuting those who provide material support to ISIS, Hezbollah and al Queda, who receive military level training from Hezbollah and al Queda, and who claim to commit attacks because of FTO inspiration, The Center Square reported. 

Recent prosecutions include a Muslim man in California charged with terrorism and allegedly financially supporting Hamas; a Muslim man in New Jersey charged with attempting to provide support to ISIS; men in Kansas City charged with conspiring to provide material support to ISIS and allegedly planning to kill U.S. servicemembers, Jews and Americans, The Center Square reported.

Last year, the FBI made 2,300 FTO arrests, 700 counterterrorism arrests, and 640 counterterrorism disruptions, The Center Square reported.