Salman Rushdie, the attacker, was withdrawn and showed an interest in Islam following a 2018 trip. Mom says that

The man accused of stabbing author Salman Rushdie is a 24-year-old born to Lebanese parents who reportedly became radicalized and withdrawn after a month-long trip to the Middle East in 2018.

Hadi Matear was born in California, but his parents divorced in 2004,, with his father moving to Lebanon, and his mother moving to New Jersey. Silvana Fardos his mother spoke to The Daily Mail.

She stated that she was shocked at the stabbing, and that her son changed after he went to Lebanon to visit his father.

” He called me the first time he got there, asking for my help. He stayed for approximately 28 days but the trip did not go well with his father, he felt very alone,” she said. I was hoping he would return motivated to finish school and get a job. Instead, he took refuge in his basement. While he had made many changes, he never spoke to his sister .”

for several months.

His mother said that he was more interested in Islam, but he didn’t dress differently. This led him to believe it was just a phase.

“He once argued with me, asking why I advised him to study instead of being religious. She said that he was upset at me for not introducing him to Islam as a child.

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Mr. Rushdie, 75, was stabbed at least ten times on Friday during a speaking engagement at The Chautauqua Institution in western New York.

Zafar Rushdie’s son described his father’s condition on Sunday as serious despite having been taken off a ventilator for the weekend.

The British-born Indian author was threatened for many decades after Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Iran’s Supreme Leader, issued a fatwa as a response to his 1988 text “The Satanic Verses .”

“.

Some aspects of the novel have been deemed blasphemous and many people were killed or injured in riots or attacks sparked by fervor about the book.

Spectators reported to NBC Friday’s attacker wore black clothing and a mask. The audience was shocked when it saw that the victim was being beaten up on the stage.

Mr. Matar has been arrested by a State trooper. The outlet reported that investigators have reached out to New Jersey officials in order to learn more about the plot behind the attack.

Law enforcement stated to NBC that a look at Mr. Matar’s social media accounts revealed that he sympathizes with the causes of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Shia extremism.

Multiple sources claimed that Mr. Matar was using the fake name of Hassan Mughniyah .”

to get a driver’s licence.

Ms. Fardos said to the Mail that her son was raped in his basement and taken a PlayStation, computer, books, knives, and a sharpening blades tool.

“He is responsible for his actions,” she stated. “I also have two other minors I must take care. They’re upset and shocked. We can only try to get on with our lives .”

Mr. Matar has been taken into custody at Chautauqua County Jail. He is facing one count each of attempted second degree murder and second-degree assault.

Joseph Clark contributed this story.

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