Salman Rushdie's alleged attacker reveals reason for stabbing him

The New Jersey man who allegedly stabbed author Salman Rushdie admitted he has only ever read two pages of his controversial novel, "The Satanic Verses."

Hadi Matar, 24, was denied bail and indicted by a grand jury for the attack on Rushdie at a public event at the Chautauqua Institution last week, Newsweek reports.

Matar appeared at his arraignment in the Chautauqua County Court on Thursday, where he pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and assault.

The New Jersey man could not believe Rushdie survived the attack after being stabbed about 10 times.

"I don't like the person. I don't think he's a very good person," Matar said about the author.

"I don't like him. I don't like him very much. He's someone who attacked Islam, he attacked their beliefs, the belief systems."

Rushdie received three stab wounds to his neck, four in the stomach, a puncture in his right eye and two to the chest, and a laceration to his right thigh.

The court heard Rushdie may lose his eye as a result of the attack.