Jennifer Peltz

A federal terrorism trial has opened in Buffalo for Hadi Matar, already serving a state sentence for the 2022 stabbing of author Salman Rushdie. Prosecutors argue Matar acted to fulfil a fatwa issued by Iran’s late Ayatollah Khomeini and was motivated by loyalty to Iran’s government and Hezbollah, citing digital evidence and personal writings. The defence questions his intent and urges jurors to remain open-minded. Rushdie, seriously injured and now blind in one eye, is expected to testify. If convicted, Matar faces a potential life sentence. The case explores both the attack itself and the ideological motivations behind it.