Suspect in attack on author Salman Rushdie pleads not guilty

“shocked and saddened” by the attack.

I'm saddened and hope Mr. Rushdie heals quickly, but am not shocked at things done by extremists, be they from the West of East, be they done by private citizens or political leaders, be they religious or political, among the most horrible are acts committed by individuals that have followed what they think are directions from an extremist leader, or maybe believed some wack conspiracy theory and acted on it.

This is not a shock, really. This was mandated by Islamic extremists. Rushdie did not have enough security for the event. Maybe, after so many years, he did not demand so much security, I don’t know. And naturally now, the media is reporting it as being “motive unclear”, worried as always about discrimination above all else.

This has nothing to do with any “wack conspiracy theory”. I don’t know why the commenter included that in his comment.

Utterly appalling barbarity.

Unfortunately this highlights the almost unstoppable and insidious nature of the threat posed by Muslim fanatics, extremists and the deluded of all stripes. They quite literally live among us and all too often are not immediately recognisable until they act.

“He has that constitutional right of presumed innocence,” Barone added.

How does a suspect exercise that constitutional right when a whole room full of people saw him do it.

Flags of Iran-backed Shia militant group Hezbollah and portraits of leader Hassan Nasrallah, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his late predecessor Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, and slain Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani are visible across the village, which also has a small Christian population.

Come on he was born in the US! Maybe his parents left the above town in question to escape these groups ! How convenient try to tie this to Iran just at the time the JCPOA was about to be signed and sealed! Any thinking person would have to question the timing of this incident and suspect who the true backers are…what country has been vehemently against the JCPOA from the beginning??

'Language is courage: the ability to conceive a thought, to speak it, and by doing so to make it true.', 'What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist.'

This month, I suggest every book club in the World read and discuss "The Satanic Verses." We cannot, and will not, be bludgeoned into terrified silence by those who think their thoughts and beliefs are sacrosanct and immune to analysis and criticism.

Rushdie wrote of the revolution in Nicaragua in a non fiction book "The Jaguar's smile ".

Commentators in the USA called him a "commie sympathiser ".

He and Rushdie had planned to discuss the United States as a refuge for writers and other artists in exile.

Ironic.

The US is becoming a haven for fundamentalists of many stripes.

Time to strip these religions of their exemptions, privileges and influence.

Evenif it was a lone wolf attack , there were people who radicalized and enabled him.

We need to go after them too, otherwise there’ll be more of these brainwashed idiots cropping up.

Dagon

These religions? It’s only one religion doing this. Emphasis: Doing this in the NAME of said religion. Not merely happens to be a member.

Englisc, The Fatwah was done away long time ago, Muslim are a part of mainstream American culture,we are not a culture dominated by lots of those who want to impose White Supremacists,this ship sailed long time ago

PT,he has a damaged liver and may lose an eye

Yrrai

You mean replacement of course.

So first we have the so called plot to kill John Bolton, now this terrible attack on Rushdie, all while a nuclear treaty with Iran is about to be finalized. Interesting timing isn't it.

“wack conspiracy theory”. I don’t know why the commenter included that in his comment.

Extremists and cultists of all sorts (political and religious)tend to believe wack conspiracy theories, and the craziest act on their beliefs.

How does a suspect exercise that constitutional right when a whole room full of people saw him do it.

By standing trial in which it is the state's job to prove his guilt rather than his to prove innocence.

These religions? It’s only one religion doing this.

Muslim fanatics attacking authors.

Unification Church defrauding widows.

Evangelicals imposing their beliefs on women and sexual minorities.

Strip them of their tax exemptions and defund them all.

Crazy, glad they got this thug in custody, at least now he can’t stab anyone, the guy plead not guilty the other day. Well, let the Justice system work it’s way, but this guy doesn’t need to be anywhere outside or near someone. Hope Mr. Rushdie recovers soon.

he has a damaged liver and may lose an eye

Not to mention he was stabbed in the neck as well, so now he can’t even talk and it’ll be awhile before he talk

Wack conspiracy theories

Religion is also a theory .

Where's there's Religion there will always be conspiracy.

Be careful what you believe in

BigYenToday  08:42 am JST

On what possible basis could he plead not guilty? As other posters have pointed out, a whole roomful of people saw him do it. Are they going to go down the “diminished mental responsibility” route, or similar?

He could try the classic LDP politician defence: "I don't remember." It always seems to work for them.

Bass4,life is probably what he will get , even if Rushdie die,unless he get charged with Federal hate crimes

life is probably what he will get , even if Rushdie die,unless he get charged with Federal hate crimes

That’s what I’m saying, so let’s hope the Justice system gives him exactly that.

I wonder if the attacker will get his money?

I just read that he’s been charged with attempted murder - max sentence is 25 years. I hope they can find more than that to charge him with because imo these types should stay in prison for the rest of their lives.

Time to strip these religions of their exemptions, privileges and influence.

Rushdie’s would-be assassin, Justice Kavanaugh’s would-be assassin … religions don’t need traditional gods. They just need to persuade weak-minded adherents that they are gods.

What is it with these brainwashed extremists and books? Good literature is supposed to offend, inspire and provoke discussion.

Re: the "plea not guilty " thing.

In American Courts , and in former Commonwealth nations, the FIRST appearance of an accused in a serious case usually has a "Not Guilty " plea entered.

Alternatively , "no plea " is entered.

The accused would not have been served with the Police case yet, so it would be a foolish man who pled to someone he didnt know was alleged against him.

Given the number of witnesses, the man's lawyer may suggest he plead guilty at about the third time in Court.

Dont be surprised if a "Not Guilty " plea will give this man the chance to grandstand in a Courtroom, trying to justify his actions

It’s too bad that Mr. Rushdie did not have adequate security that was armed and simply shot Martar until he was lying dead on the stage. That might have saved Mr. Rushdie some injuries and served as a warning to other extremists.

Kaminari

So religion is now a “wack conspiracy theory” is it? So, no religions should be allowed? If if theories about the meaning of life and make a group expressing that, I should be closed down?

Dagon

We’re talking about murder here. Not about “imposing their beliefs”. Beliefs? You can take it or leave it.

Anyway. Only one religion directs to kill. In “fatwahs”.

Unification Church defrauding widows.

Evangelicals imposing their beliefs on women and sexual minorities.

> Strip them of their tax exemptions and defund them all.

It would be fair..

In 1991, a Japanese translator of the book was stabbed to death 

The killer has got away, and the case has become cold. It's a horrifying crime done on a peaceful university campus. The inquiry should be reopened. I suspect there must have been some collaborators supporting the killer.

Extremists in all religions and groups should be rightly condemned by the moderates in said group, otherwise the extremist thinking will become the accepted norm.

It’s too bad that Mr. Rushdie did not have adequate security that was armed and simply shot Martar until he was lying dead on the stage.

He’s not dead

That might have saved Mr. Rushdie some injuries and served as a warning to other extremists.

It already did, the mission wasn’t completed.

What is it with these brainwashed extremists and books?

They think their particular books are magic.

It is is bound to cause problems when someone points out that they aren’t.

Extremists in all religions and groups should be rightly condemned by the moderates in said group, otherwise the extremist thinking will become the accepted norm

I agree but many so-called moderates of Islam and other religions criticised Rushdie for writing the ‘Satanic Verses’. In the US and UK quite a few high profile religious leaders and politicians were doing this.

I think they liked the idea that criticism or ridicule of religion should be seen as unacceptable and others just saw potential votes.

Sam:

I’m thinking about the situation a little differently.

I’d say Rushdie is lucky psycho boy didn’t have a gun.

New York does not have the death penalty and perhaps it should.

Kaminari

You said, “where there’s religion, there will always be conspiracy”, thus connecting it by default to dangerous acts.

He’s not dead

Which was exactly my point. Had security killed Matar been killed then Mr. Rushdie would like have suffered less wounds or maybe none at all.

It already did, the mission wasn’t completed.

Other than death I cannot think of anything worse that could have happened to Mr. Rushdie.

Iife ,death ,God their all ideas or theories.

? There is nothing theoretical about life or death. Both are directly observable and measurable facts. God or gods however are not.

Again, most liberal States don't have a sterling record when it comes to the AG and DA charging serious crimes. 

I’m afraid the facts just don’t support your hypothesis.

This is a serious crime and will be treated seriously. Nobody without a grudge against the US or ‘liberal states’ expects him to go free.

The disgruntled and inarticulate lonely assassin. Having witnessed so many instances of assassinations and attempted assassinations in the U.S. I have to wonder again if there is not a sinister puppeteer behind the curtain.

Get well, Mr. Rushdie. You will write again.

Disgraceful! Absolutely disgraceful!

Jean,more in Europe than anywhere in the US,France, Belgium and UK

He was an American