Salman Rushdie's Attacker Convicted on Federal Terrorism Charges in New York
Details of the Attack and Conviction
The 2022 Stabbing Incident
July 29 (Reuters) - The man who stabbed and partially blinded author Salman Rushdie on stage at a New York arts institute in 2022 was found guilty on Wednesday of federal terrorism charges stemming from the attack.
Identity and Charges Against Hadi Matar
Hadi Matar, 28, was convicted of attempting to provide material support to Lebanon's Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, as well as engaging in transnational terrorism and providing material support to terrorists.
Jury Verdict and Trial Timeline
A U.S. District Court jury in Buffalo, New York, returned its guilty verdict on all charges after deliberations of just two hours, capping a trial that began last Tuesday, according to a spokesperson for federal prosecutors.
Background: The Fatwa Against Salman Rushdie
History of Threats Against Rushdie
Rushdie, 79, had faced threats on his life since the 1988 publication of his novel "The Satanic Verses." Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, then Iran's supreme leader, denounced the book as blasphemous, leading to a call for Rushdie's death, an edict known as a fatwa.
Matar's Motivation and Planning
Research and Preparation
According to evidence presented at his trial, Matar spent more than a year researching the fatwa before deciding to try fulfilling the edict with an attack on Rushdie while the author was speaking at the Chautauqua Institution in Mayville, New York.
Details of the Attack
Rushdie was stabbed with a knife multiple times in the head, neck, torso and left hand, blinding his right eye and damaging internal organs, requiring emergency surgery and months of recovery.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
State and Federal Convictions
Matar, a U.S. citizen from Fairview, New Jersey, was found guilty of attempted murder in New York state court in 2025, and was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Federal Sentencing Details
His conviction on federal terrorism charges carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. Sentencing was scheduled for November 3.
(Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by David Gregorio)
