Hadi Matar Sentenced to 25 Years for Stabbing Salman Rushdie

Chautauqua, New York — Hadi Matar, the man who attacked author Salman Rushdie in 2022, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Friday. This sentence is the maximum for attempted murder.

Matar, 27, was convicted earlier this year for repeatedly stabbing Rushdie during a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution on August 12, 2022. The brutal assault left Rushdie, now 77, partially blind, suffering from nerve damage and other serious injuries. Matar also injured Ralph Henry Reese, a moderator who tried to intervene.

The conviction came after a trial where prosecutors argued that Matar’s attack was premeditated and aimed specifically at Rushdie, whose writing has long been controversial. The jury took less than two hours to reach a guilty verdict.

During the sentencing, Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt described Matar as seeking to inflict maximum harm, not only on Rushdie but also on the audience of 1,400 people at the event. Schmidt called the attack a grave violation of public safety.

In a statement made before the sentencing, Matar defended his actions, accusing Rushdie of disrespecting others and calling him a bully. Matar was in jail attire as he spoke, but Rushdie was not present in court that day.

Matar’s defense argued that the prosecution needed to prove more than what had happened during the attack. They also noted that Matar had a clean criminal record prior to the incident. However, prosecutors maintained that the psychological impact of the attack reverberated throughout the community.

Rushdie testified about the traumatic experience, recalling moments of fear and blood loss as he was attacked. He described a vivid scene of chaos as he tried to comprehend the life-threatening situation.

Matar is also facing federal charges related to terrorism, stemming from the fatwa issued against Rushdie in the late 1980s. If convicted on these additional charges, he could face life in prison.

Rushdie has published numerous works, including the controversial novel The Satanic Verses, which led to many years of threats against his life. His latest book, Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder, reflects on the attack and his journey of recovery.