Salman Rushdie Attacker Hadi Matar Sentenced to 25 Years

Web Desk – Hadi Matar, the man who stabbed author Salman Rushdie onstage during a literary event in 2022, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison, officials confirmed on Friday. The attack, which took place at the Chautauqua Institution in Western New York, left the novelist partially blind and severely injured.

Rushdie, now 77, has lived under threat since the 1988 publication of The Satanic Verses, a novel that sparked outrage across the Muslim world. Iran’s then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa calling for his assassination, branding the book blasphemous.

The attacker, 27-year-old Hadi Matar of Fairview, New Jersey, was found guilty in February at the Chautauqua County Court in Mayville, New York. He received the maximum sentence of 25 years for second-degree attempted murder and an additional seven years for second-degree assault related to the stabbing of moderator Henry Reese. The sentences will run concurrently.

Attack Captured on Video

Video footage presented during the trial showed Matar rushing the stage moments after Rushdie was introduced. The novelist was about to speak on protecting writers at risk when the attack unfolded in front of a stunned audience. Co-host Henry Reese, co-founder of the nonprofit City of Asylum, also sustained injuries while attempting to intervene.

According to District Attorney Jason Schmidt, Rushdie continues to suffer from the traumatic experience. “He’s traumatised. He has nightmares. It’s a major setback for a man who had just started re-entering public life after years in hiding due to the fatwa,” Schmidt said following the sentencing.

Rushdie’s Recovery and Injuries

Rushdie was stabbed multiple times in the head, neck, chest, and hand. He lost vision in his right eye and required emergency surgery for internal injuries, including liver and intestinal damage. His recovery involved several months of rehabilitation.

Matar Faces Additional Federal Terror Charges

Though Matar did not testify during the trial, his defense argued that prosecutors failed to prove intent to kill, claiming the case should have been charged as assault rather than attempted murder. Defense attorney Nathaniel Barone stated that Matar intends to appeal the verdict. “If he had the chance to change things, he would,” Barone said.

In addition to the state conviction, Matar faces federal terrorism-related charges in a separate case in Buffalo. U.S. prosecutors allege he attempted to murder Salman Rushdie as an act of terrorism and accuse him of providing material support to Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.

The federal case is expected to proceed later this year.