Salman Rushdie Testifies at Attacker's Terrorism Trial
The Spin
Narrative A
In the months leading up to the attack, Matar was photographed meeting several leading Iranian and Hezbollah figures as well as saluting a Hezbollah-related t-shirt. Prosecutors have already made a strong case that he considered the attack on Rushdie a Jihad, making this crime not only attempted murder, but state sanctioned terrorism. Matar wanted everyone to know that what he was doing was in the name of Hezbollah.
Narrative B
While the prosecution can point to evidence Matar held pro-Hezbollah views, proving his state of mind at the time of the attack is a very different matter, as has been elaborated by the defense. Without hard evidence of a causal effect or directed motivation, it is unlikely a jury can legitimately find that this was a terrorist incident.
Establishment-critical narrative
The West battled to defend and protect Rushdie in the wake of the fatwa, despite the lives his blasphemy cost many in India and Pakistan. More pressing than this trial, the question remains as to how America's decision to relax Rushdie's security, and ultimately enable this attack, served U.S. interests in the nation's ongoing targeting of Iran.