因2022年刺伤作家萨尔曼·鲁西迪而被定罪的28岁男子哈迪·马塔将在纽约州布法罗联邦法院面临恐怖主义审判[1]。马塔已因州级谋杀未遂和人身伤害罪被判25年监禁[1]，此次联邦案件若被定罪将面临终身监禁[1]。
检控方指控马塔参与跨国恐怖主义活动，声称其受伊朗政府和真主党支持的宗教令所驱动[1]。证据包括在马塔的电子设备中发现追杀令信息，以及其卧室内发现的伊朗已故最高领袖霍梅尼和现任最高领袖哈梅内伊照片[1]。1989年，霍梅尼曾因鲁西迪1988年出版的小说《撒旦诗篇》发布了对其的追杀令[1]。
79岁的鲁西迪预计将作为首批证人出庭作证[1]。他曾因该部小说获得布克奖，2022年遭刺伤后右眼失明[1]。
马塔已否认联邦指控[1]，其律师纳撒尼尔·巴隆表示将进行开庭陈述[1]。
A federal terrorism trial is set to begin Wednesday in Buffalo, New York, against Hadi Matar, the man convicted of stabbing author Salman Rushdie in 2022. [1] Matar, 28, is already serving a 25-year prison sentence following his conviction on state-level charges of attempted murder and assault. [1]
The federal case will examine whether Matar was motivated by a fatwa backed by the Iranian government and Hezbollah, according to prosecutors. [1] Federal charges against Matar include participation in transnational terrorism activities, and a conviction could result in a life sentence. [1]
Evidence presented by prosecutors includes materials on Matar's electronic devices referencing the fatwa, as well as photographs of Iran's deceased Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini and current Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei found in his bedroom. [1] Matar has denied the federal allegations, with his attorney Nathaniel Barone indicating the defense will present an opening statement. [1]
The fatwa dates to 1989, when Iran's then-Supreme Leader Khomeini issued a death sentence against Rushdie over his 1988 novel "The Satanic Verses." [1] Rushdie, now 79, won the Booker Prize for the work and lost sight in his right eye as a result of the 2022 attack. [1] The author is expected to testify as one of the first witnesses in the trial. [1]