A New York court has sentenced Hadi Matar to 25 years in prison, the maximum sentence, on May 16, for the attempted murder of author Salman Rushdie during a 2022 literary event. Matar, 26, also received a concurrent seven-year sentence for assaulting event moderator Henry Reese.
The attack occurred at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York, where Rushdie was scheduled to speak. Matar rushed the stage and stabbed Rushdie multiple times, resulting in the author losing sight in one eye and sustaining nerve and liver damage.
Prosecutors argued that Matar was motivated by a decades-old fatwa issued by Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini, which called for Rushdie’s death following the 1988 publication of his novel “The Satanic Verses.” Matar, who holds dual U.S. and Lebanese citizenship, faces additional federal charges, including attempting to provide material support to Hezbollah.
During the trial, Matar showed no remorse, instead blaming Rushdie and accusing him of hypocrisy. Rushdie testified about the physical and emotional trauma he endured, later chronicling his experience in the memoir “Knife,” published in April 2024.
District Attorney Jason Schmidt emphasized the premeditated nature of the attack and its impact on the community. The sentencing concludes a high-profile case that has drawn international attention and highlighted ongoing concerns about freedom of expression and violence fueled by Islamic extremism.
