Importance Score: 72 / 100 🔴
Man Who Attacked Salman Rushdie to Be Sentenced
MAYVILLE, N.Y. — Hadi Matar, the man convicted of the 2022 attack on author Salman Rushdie, is scheduled to be sentenced Friday. The brutal assault on a New York lecture stage left the prizewinning author with lasting injuries, including blindness in one eye. This concluding court session aims to deliver justice for the grave crime.
Guilty Verdict and Sentencing Request
In February, a jury found Hadi Matar, 27, guilty of attempted murder and assault. Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt stated he will seek the maximum penalty of 25 years in prison for the August 12, 2022, offense on Rushdie, in addition to seven years for the injury inflicted on a second individual present on stage with the author.
Schmidt clarified that the punishments must be served simultaneously since both victims were harmed during the same event.
Rushdie’s Absence and Trial Testimony
The prosecutor confirmed that Rushdie is not expected to attend the sentencing hearing. During the trial, the 77-year-old author provided critical testimony, recounting the moment a masked assailant plunged a knife into his head and body more than a dozen times at the Chautauqua Institution, where he had been invited to discuss writer safety. Rushdie vividly described how he felt he was dying during the attack.
The Author’s Recovery Journey
Following the assault, Rushdie spent 17 days in a Pennsylvania hospital followed by over three weeks in a New York City rehabilitation center. The acclaimed author of renowned works such as “Midnight’s Children,” “The Moor’s Last Sigh” and “Victory City” chronicled his arduous recovery in his 2024 memoir, “Knife.”
Future Federal Trial
Matar still faces a subsequent federal trial concerning terrorism-related allegations. While the initial trial primarily examined the specifics of the knife attack, the forthcoming trial is anticipated to probe the complexities of the motive behind the violence.
The Fatwa and Alleged Motive
Authorities have asserted that Matar, a U.S. citizen, sought to execute a decades-old fatwa, or religious decree, calling for Rushdie’s death. He journeyed from his residence in Fairview, New Jersey, to target Rushdie at the summer retreat, located approximately 70 miles (112.6 kilometers) southwest of Buffalo.
Details of the Alleged Backing
- According to federal prosecutors, Matar believed the fatwa, initially issued in 1989, had the backing of Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based militant group.
- He also believed it was endorsed in a 2006 speech by Hassan Nasrallah, the group’s secretary-general.
Historical Context: The Satanic Verses
The fatwa was originally issued by Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini following the publication of Rushdie’s controversial novel, “The Satanic Verses,” which some Muslims deemed blasphemous. Consequently, Rushdie spent years in hiding. However, after Iran declared it would no longer enforce the decree, he traveled freely for the past quarter-century.
Charges and Video Evidence
Matar has entered a not-guilty plea to a three-count indictment, including providing material to terrorists, attempting to provide material support to Hezbollah, and engaging in terrorism transcending national boundaries.
Description of the Attack
Video footage of the assault, captured by venue cameras and presented at trial, depicted Matar approaching Rushdie from behind as he was seated. Matar is seen reaching around him to stab at his torso with a knife. As the audience reacted with gasps and screams, Rushdie raised his arms, rose from his seat, and stumbled for a few steps with Matar continuing his attack until both fell. Onlookers then rushed in to intervene and separate them.
Swift Jury Deliberation
Jurors in Matar’s initial trial reached their verdict in under two hours of deliberation.