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Saturday, Dec 13, 2025
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Hadi Matar Sentenced to 25 Years for Stabbing Salman Rushdie
The New Jersey man convicted of attempted murder is sentenced following a violent attack on the acclaimed author.
Hadi Matar, 27, from New Jersey, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the attempted murder of author Salman Rushdie.
The sentencing was issued on Friday by the Chautauqua County Court, nearly three months after Matar was convicted of attempted murder in the second degree.
The attack occurred during a literary event in western New York state in August 2022, where Matar stabbed Rushdie repeatedly, resulting in severe injuries, including the loss of vision in his right eye.
Rushdie, 77, testified during the trial, recounting the harrowing moment he realized he was fatally wounded and the aftermath of his injuries, which affected his liver and intestines as well.
In addition to the sentence for attempted murder, Matar received an additional seven years for wounding Ralph Henry Reese, who was moderating the event and was also injured during the attack.
The sentences will run concurrently, as both individuals were harmed during the same incident.
Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt characterized the attack as premeditated, emphasizing the potential harm it posed not only to Rushdie but also to the audience of approximately 1,400 attendees.
Matar's defense attorney, Nathaniel Barone, argued that Matar had no prior criminal record and contested the notion that the audience could be considered victims in the same context as Rushdie and Reese.
Barone highlighted the extensive media coverage surrounding the case, suggesting it biased public perception against Matar from the start.
During his trial, Rushdie described the traumatic experience of the attack, stating he was aware of his blood loss and felt as if he were dying.
Matar inflicted 15 stab wounds to Rushdie's head, neck, torso, and left hand.
Reports indicate that Matar's motivations were influenced by a speech made in 2006 by Hassan Nasrallah, then-leader of Hezbollah, who referenced a longstanding fatwa against Rushdie initiated by Iranian authorities more than three decades prior due to the publication of Rushdie's novel, The Satanic Verses.
Following the incident, Matar admitted he had only read a limited portion of the controversial book.
In response to the attack, Rushdie has documented his recovery journey and experiences in a memoir titled 'Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder.'
The sentencing was issued on Friday by the Chautauqua County Court, nearly three months after Matar was convicted of attempted murder in the second degree.
The attack occurred during a literary event in western New York state in August 2022, where Matar stabbed Rushdie repeatedly, resulting in severe injuries, including the loss of vision in his right eye.
Rushdie, 77, testified during the trial, recounting the harrowing moment he realized he was fatally wounded and the aftermath of his injuries, which affected his liver and intestines as well.
In addition to the sentence for attempted murder, Matar received an additional seven years for wounding Ralph Henry Reese, who was moderating the event and was also injured during the attack.
The sentences will run concurrently, as both individuals were harmed during the same incident.
Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt characterized the attack as premeditated, emphasizing the potential harm it posed not only to Rushdie but also to the audience of approximately 1,400 attendees.
Matar's defense attorney, Nathaniel Barone, argued that Matar had no prior criminal record and contested the notion that the audience could be considered victims in the same context as Rushdie and Reese.
Barone highlighted the extensive media coverage surrounding the case, suggesting it biased public perception against Matar from the start.
During his trial, Rushdie described the traumatic experience of the attack, stating he was aware of his blood loss and felt as if he were dying.
Matar inflicted 15 stab wounds to Rushdie's head, neck, torso, and left hand.
Reports indicate that Matar's motivations were influenced by a speech made in 2006 by Hassan Nasrallah, then-leader of Hezbollah, who referenced a longstanding fatwa against Rushdie initiated by Iranian authorities more than three decades prior due to the publication of Rushdie's novel, The Satanic Verses.
Following the incident, Matar admitted he had only read a limited portion of the controversial book.
In response to the attack, Rushdie has documented his recovery journey and experiences in a memoir titled 'Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder.'
