The attorney for suspect Hadi Matar, 24, of New Jersey, did not elaborate on the charges because he had not yet seen the document. The prosecutor’s office also would not comment further on charges. An arraignment in the county court is scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday, defense attorney Nathaniel Barone said.
“We anticipated that the prosecutor would certainly present this matter for indictment prior to any preliminary hearing” and so are prepared for Thursday’s arraignment, Barone said.
The 75-year-old author suffered three stab wounds to his neck, four stab wounds to his stomach, puncture wounds to his right eye and chest, and a laceration on his right thigh, Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt said last weekend.
Rushdie might lose vision in his right eye, the district attorney added.
Authorities have not released a motive for the attack.
Fardos didn’t learn about the stabbing attack until the FBI raided her home in Fairview, New Jersey, she told the Daily Mail.
A religious decree for Rushdie’s death
In 1998, the Iranian government tried to distance itself from the fatwa by pledging not to seek to carry it out. Despite that, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reaffirmed the religious edict.
In February 2017, on Khamenei’s official website, the supreme leader was asked if the “fatwa against Rushdie was still in effect.” Khamenei confirmed it was, saying, “The decree is as Imam Khomeini issued.”
“We categorically and seriously deny any connection of the assailant with Iran,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said.
“We do not consider anyone other than (Rushdie) and his supporters worth of blame and even condemnation.”
US condemns Iranian government statement
The US State Department denounced Iran’s stance, calling the comments “despicable” and “disgusting.”
“It is no secret that the Iranian regime has been central to the threats against his life over the course of years now,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said.
He called Iran’s “gloating” over the attack “absolutely outrageous.”
“We want it to be very clear that it is not something that we can tolerate,” Price said.
Rushdie began living under British protection after Iran issued the fatwa calling for his death.
On Monday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was shocked by the attack on Rushdie, who is also a British citizen.
“Appalled that Sir Salman Rushdie has been stabbed while exercising a right we should never cease to defend,” Johnson tweeted. “Right now my thoughts are with his loved ones.”
CNN’s Mark Morales and Alex Stambaugh contributed to this report.
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism