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Sunday, Feb 23, 2025
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Hadi Matar Convicted of Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie
New Jersey man found guilty of stabbing the acclaimed author on stage in August 2022
Hadi Matar, a 27-year-old man from New Jersey, has been found guilty of attempted murder and assault in connection with the stabbing of renowned author Sir Salman Rushdie during a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution in New York State in August 2022. A jury delivered the verdict after a two-week trial in Chautauqua County Court, where Matar now faces a potential sentence of over 30 years in prison.
The brutal attack left Sir Salman, 77, with severe injuries, including damage to his liver, loss of vision in one eye, and paralysis in one hand due to nerve damage.
Sir Salman testified during the trial, recounting that he initially thought he had been punched when he saw a figure rushing towards him.
He was ultimately stabbed 15 times in various parts of his body, including the eye, neck, and chest.
The incident took place more than 35 years after the publication of Sir Salman’s controversial novel, The Satanic Verses, which provoked outrage among segments of the Muslim community and led to a fatwa issued against him by Iran's religious leadership, calling for his death.
Following the book's release in 1988, Sir Salman endured years of living under the threat of violence, leading him to adopt a life of seclusion.
Despite this history, Sir Salman stated that he believed threats against him had diminished in recent years.
During the trial, prosecutors highlighted the targeted nature of the attack, showcasing video evidence that captured the assault and the immediate aftermath, which included gasps and screams from the audience.
Matar was also found guilty of assaulting Henry Reese, the interviewer present on stage, resulting in a minor head injury.
Matar's defense argued that the prosecution failed to prove intent to kill, asserting that, had Rushdie been a less famous individual, the charges might have been less severe.
Matar reportedly did not testify in his defense, and his lawyers did not call any witnesses.
Additionally, an indictment unsealed in July revealed that Matar has been charged in a separate federal case for allegedly providing material support to Hezbollah, a group designated as a terrorist organization by multiple countries including the United States and members of the Arab League.
Sentencing for Matar has been scheduled for April 23, as the legal proceedings continue to draw significant global attention, highlighting issues of literary freedom, personal safety of authors, and the ongoing ramifications of extremist ideologies.
The brutal attack left Sir Salman, 77, with severe injuries, including damage to his liver, loss of vision in one eye, and paralysis in one hand due to nerve damage.
Sir Salman testified during the trial, recounting that he initially thought he had been punched when he saw a figure rushing towards him.
He was ultimately stabbed 15 times in various parts of his body, including the eye, neck, and chest.
The incident took place more than 35 years after the publication of Sir Salman’s controversial novel, The Satanic Verses, which provoked outrage among segments of the Muslim community and led to a fatwa issued against him by Iran's religious leadership, calling for his death.
Following the book's release in 1988, Sir Salman endured years of living under the threat of violence, leading him to adopt a life of seclusion.
Despite this history, Sir Salman stated that he believed threats against him had diminished in recent years.
During the trial, prosecutors highlighted the targeted nature of the attack, showcasing video evidence that captured the assault and the immediate aftermath, which included gasps and screams from the audience.
Matar was also found guilty of assaulting Henry Reese, the interviewer present on stage, resulting in a minor head injury.
Matar's defense argued that the prosecution failed to prove intent to kill, asserting that, had Rushdie been a less famous individual, the charges might have been less severe.
Matar reportedly did not testify in his defense, and his lawyers did not call any witnesses.
Additionally, an indictment unsealed in July revealed that Matar has been charged in a separate federal case for allegedly providing material support to Hezbollah, a group designated as a terrorist organization by multiple countries including the United States and members of the Arab League.
Sentencing for Matar has been scheduled for April 23, as the legal proceedings continue to draw significant global attention, highlighting issues of literary freedom, personal safety of authors, and the ongoing ramifications of extremist ideologies.
