Rushdie stabbing suspect 'in direct contact' with Iran's IRGC
August 15, 2022, 8:56 am

Rushdie stabbing suspect 'in direct contact' with Iran's IRGC

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) march during a military parade. (AFP/File)

A report in VICE World News said that the 24-year-old New Jersey man of Lebanese descent accused of stabbing author Salman Rushdie on Friday (August 12) "had contact with Iran's Revolutionary Guards.”

Intelligence officials told the US-based media company that Hadi Matar was in contact with IRGC members via social media, the report said, according to the i24 news.

A Middle Eastern intelligence official told VICE that it was "clear" that Matar had been in contact with “people either directly involved with or adjacent to the Quds Force."

The Quds Force is one of five branches of the IRGC specializing in unconventional warfare and military intelligence operations.

The official said: “It’s unclear the extent of the involvement, if this was a directly supported assassination attempt or if it was a series of suggestions and directions in picking a target.”

Salman Rushdie is on a ventilator and cannot speak, his arm and liver are injured and he might lose an eye - Photo. Getty Imgaes

Sunday's VICE report also stated that there was no evidence of Iranian involvement in organizing the attack on Rushdie, 75, who was stabbed at least 10 times while on stage in Chautauqua, New York.

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Rushdie remains hospitalized in "critical condition" but was taken off the ventilator, according to his son. His literary agent said that Rushdie is "on the road to recovery."

Matar on Saturday (August 13) pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and assault and was ordered held without bail.

Source: i24news

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”