Iran's long hand?
Khadi Matar, who attacked with knife stabs and seriously injured the author Salman Rushdie, has contact with representatives of the Revolutionary Guards, the American online news site "Weiss" revealed tonight (light for Monday).
According to the report, which came from intelligence services in the Middle East and Europe, Mater has contact with the organization's representatives on social networks.
A senior official in the intelligence services of one of the NATO countries told the news site that the style of the attack fit the pattern of a "directed attack" in which the Revolutionary Guards operatives encouraged a local supporter to carry out the operation.
"His communication pattern and the records kept should be checked in a very comprehensive manner. A further intensive investigation will surely reveal more about his connections with the Revolutionary Guards," the security official told the news site anonymously.
Earlier today Par Rushdi, the writer's son, reported that his father was disconnected from the resuscitation machine, he is fully conscious and has returned to talking and communicating with the doctors and his family members.
Rushdi said that his father suffered a "lifetime injury" and that for some time he fought for his life.
As you may remember, the 75-year-old Rushdie, who wrote the book "The Devil's Verses" which infuriated many Muslims in the world due to the way in which the image of the Prophet Muhammad is presented, was stabbed in the neck and stomach during a conference in New York.
Khadi Matar, who is accused of attempting to murder author Salman Rushdie, is taken into custody, photo: AP
In 1988, Rushdie published "Satan's Verses", a work from which there was an implicit criticism against the Prophet of Islam Muhammad, which was received with astonishment and anger in the Muslim world and was even banned for distribution in the Islamic Republic of Iran and other Muslim countries.
Following this, the supreme leader at the time, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, issued a halachic ruling ordering Rushdi to be killed for what was perceived as blasphemy.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also referred to the writer in a tweet he published about three years ago and emphasized that the halachic ruling of his predecessor in office is still in effect.
"Imam Khomeini's verdict regarding Salman Rushdie is based on divine verses and just like divine verses, it is firm and irrevocable," Iran's supreme leader wrote at the time.
His account was temporarily restricted and returned to normal use later.
were we wrong
We will fix it!
If you found an error in the article, we would appreciate it if you shared it with us
