Salman Rushdie Stabbing Suspect Praised Iran's Khomeini — Here's What We Know About Hadi Matar

During a jailhouse interview on Wednesday, the man suspected of attacking Rushdie praised the leader of Iran who called for Rushdie to be killed.

Matar told the New York Post that he has respect for Iran's former Supreme Leader and described him as a "great person."

The New Jersey native declined to say if he was inspired to attack Rushdie based on Khomeni's 1989 fatwa which called for Rushdie to be killed after he wrote and published The Satanic Verses.

Matar told the Post that he only read a few pages of Rushdie's book, but that he doesn't think the author is a good person.

Matar's mother disowned him over the accusations. The New York Times quoted Silvana Fardos as saying she was done with him. Matar returned from a trip to the Middle East that wasclusive and focused on Islam. Matar's parents are from Lebanon and he was born in New Jersey.

Matar was charged with attempted murder and assault. He is due in court on Friday. He is accused of jumping onstage as Rushdie prepared to give a speech and stabbed the author around 10 times. Rushdie is on the road to recovery, according to his camp. He has communicated with his family since he was taken off a breathing machine. Rushdie is one of the people who have been attacked.

The author survived an interview in jail.

The New York Times wrote about a mother's anger over the Rushdie attack.

The father of the suspect in the case of the author speaking and off ventilator refused to answer questions.

The suspect in the attack on Rushdie is the latest in a long line of people attacked because of their literary works.

The author attacked on stage.