Hadi Matar, a 27-year-old American-Lebanese man, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on May 16, 2025, by the Chautauqua County Court in New York for the attempted murder and assault of author Salman Rushdie. The attack occurred on August 12, 2022, at the Chautauqua Institution, where Matar stabbed Rushdie approximately 15 times during a literary event, leaving the 77-year-old novelist blind in his right eye, with a paralyzed hand, and injuries to his liver, neck, and intestines. Matar was also convicted of assaulting Henry Reese, the event moderator, who sustained a minor head injury.
Matar’s motive was linked to a 1989 fatwa issued by Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini against Rushdie over his novel The Satanic Verses, which some Muslims deemed blasphemous. During the trial, Matar admitted to reading only two pages of the book but believed Rushdie had “attacked Islam.” He shouted “Free Palestine” during court appearances, and federal charges allege he supported Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based militant group. Rushdie testified vividly about the attack, describing a “lake of blood” and believing he was dying. The jury convicted Matar in February 2025 after less than two hours of deliberation.
Matar faces additional federal terrorism charges in a separate trial in Buffalo. Posts on X reflected polarized sentiments, with some calling the sentencing just and others questioning why Matar wasn’t executed. Rushdie, who detailed his recovery in his 2024 memoir Knife, continues to advocate for free expression despite decades of threats.