So many times we have seen jihadis turn out to be people who were unreligious, and then at some point in their lives became much more involved with Islam, and then turned to jihad. Authorities, however, remain resolutely incurious about the possibility that Islamic teaching just might have something to do with this turn to violence.
“Exclusive: Distraught mother of alleged Iranian sympathizer accused of trying to murder Salman Rushdie says her son returned home as religious zealot after a month-long trip to the Middle East and says he is ‘responsible for his actions,'” by Ben Ashford, DailyMail.com, August 14, 2022:
The distraught mother of the alleged Iranian sympathizer accused of trying to murder Salman Rushdie revealed how her outgoing, American-raised son took a month-long trip to the Middle East – and came back a religious zealot….
Silvana, who is Lebanese and born Muslim, said she didn’t know if her son had ever read Rushdie’s book, but detected he had become more religious since his trip, adding that he would criticize her for not giving him a strict Muslim upbringing….
Matar was born in the US to Lebanese parents who emigrated from the southern border town of Yaroun, a stronghold of the Iranian-backed terror group Hezbollah.
He grew up and went to school in Cudahy, California, before his mom divorced his father Hassan Matar in 2004, her ex-husband returning to the Middle East while she moved to New Jersey for a fresh start.
It was on a trip to Lebanon in 2018 to visit his father that Hadi changed from a popular, loving son to a moody introvert, according to Silvana….
Silvana also detected that her son was becoming more religious and he would criticize her for not giving him a strict Muslim upbringing….
‘One time he argued with me asking why I encouraged him to get an education instead of focusing on religion. He was angry that I did not introduce him to Islam from a young age,’ Silvana added.
‘I’m Lebanese but I’ve been here for 26 years. I’m living a simple life as a single mom, trying to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table for my kids.
‘I don’t care about politics, I’m not religious. I was born a Muslim and that’s it basically. I didn’t push my kids into religion or force anything on my son. I don’t know anyone in Iran, all my family are here.’…
The current leader of Hezbollah is named Hassan Nasrallah while one of its most notorious commanders was called Imad Mughniyeh. It listed his address as an apartment in West New York, New Jersey, but the unit’s owner told DailyMail.com she had never heard of either Matar or Mughniyeh….
Despite his growing zeal for Islam he never dressed any differently, leading Silvana to hope it was just a passing phase….
‘I feel sorry for Mr Rushdie. I hope he recovers but there’s nothing much I can say or do because this wasn’t my act.’
PMK says
I’d say that mother is lucky to be alive. She’s not religious. Her son has been moody and intolerant for several years and blames her for not focusing on Islam in his upbringing.. She could easily have been murdered by him in an honor killing.
Infidel says
Yeah, she’s lucky that he got Rushdie instead of her. But she should have told him to go join his dad in Lebanon, if an islamic life is what he wants, and that he need not return to her. Or better yet, Iran!
gravenimage says
Yep.
Jayell says
There seems to be some sort of ‘Pygmalion’ element in this. The hero of the piece here was apparently given a civilised Western background of sorts, yet he reverted to type as soon as he came into contact with his ‘roots’. Does that tell us that there is something that responds to islam in thesepeople’s DNA, or maybe it was their DNA that generated islam in the first place. Whatever, it would seem to cast doubt over those who ‘sincerely’ claim to have converted from ‘The religion of Peace’.
gravenimage says
Not DNA, Jayell. But just as some raised lax non-Kosher Jewish or Christmas-and-Easter-only Christians decide to take a closer look at their faith when they reach adulthood, so do some Muslims.
The big difference is what they find. Jews and Christians may become more peacefully devout, but Muslims also discover that their faith calls for violence. Some are repelled by this, I’m sure, but some embrace it. Matar certainly did.
Westman says
Son goes to Middle East comes back and criticises Mom. What taught him that he was now superior to his mother and all women? What philosophy can create bratty 10 year-olds who harass their mothers and expect fealty from women?
It seems more likely, after high school, Hadi discovered that popularity dies when life gets serious. His fellow students moved on to the rest of their lives while he was a bit slow on the draw. He is in his 20s when going to see Dad’s culture and suddenly realizes that he is elevated in that culture and accepts it totally, including the martyr’s reward.
Now he thinks mom cheated him by not injecting him into his dad’s supremist culture where he can be superior to 90% of humanity. A way to be popular in Islam and get a monetary reward from Iran comes to his attention, likely, from some Iran-sympathizing and connected groomer who sees a willing, not-too-bright, mark. There is someone else connected to Hadi Matar’s motive to kill Salman Rushdie.
The Islamic view of life as difficult, punctuated with war, poverty, disease, pestilence and death, followed by a reward of women, feasting, and leisure for the obedient is a failing model that appeals mostly to those of limited physical and mental mobility. Modern communication displays, with high resolution, that this view of Jannah reward is obtainable right here on earth. The aware young males are voting with their feet for a good life NOW in Western nations. Islam is in trouble, moving in Western nations, more toward an ethnicity than a religion.
Who, with real potential, actually wants 72 virgins, thousands of servants, continuous gluttony, and watching the torture of unbelievers for entertainment? The Islamic Jannah is a place of carnal excess that would eventually bore any thinking man.
In a desert environment where infanticide was practiced to keep the population within the food capacity and wealth was increased by raiding, the promise of Jannah may have been too desirable to allow any analysis of its absurdity and impracticality.
Ade Fegan says
Well let’s see how angry he gets spending 10 years in a cell with a bull queer and eating bacon every day (if there’s any justice)
gravenimage says
Rushdie stabber’s mother says he traveled to Middle East, returned angry he didn’t get strict Muslim upbringing
………………………..
Good grief…
Shawn says
Just look at that pic of that thing.I see many that look just like that all over my city.The politicians who brought this scourge to our countries gonna have to pay a steep price one-day.
JHL says
I hope he receives the death penalty.