A man accused of attempting to murder famed author Salman Rushdie in 2022 was convicted in a New York court on Friday.
A jury in Chautauqua County found Hadi Matar, 27, from Fairview, New Jersey, guilty of stabbing Rushdie as he prepared to deliver a lecture in western New York.
As the jury foreperson announced the guilty verdict for charges of second-degree attempted murder and second-degree assault, Matar remained silent, according to the Erie Times-News—part of the USA TODAY Network. The charges could result in a prison sentence of up to 25 years for Matar.
“This entire community deserved justice here, and I’m pleased that we have been able to provide that,” said Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt after the ruling. “Mr. Matar came into this community as a visitor, and my role is to ensure that he remains a resident of New York State for the next 25 years.”
Here are key details about the attack, Matar’s conviction, and statements from his attorney.
What is the date for Hadi Matar’s sentencing hearing?
Matar’s sentencing is set for April 23.
Nathaniel Barone, who represented Matar as a public defender in Chautauqua County, expressed disappointment at the verdict and announced plans to appeal.
“After the sentencing, regardless of the outcome, we will file our notice of appeal with the Fourth Department, Appellate Division, and pursue any appealable matters we believe arose during the trial or were committed by the court or prosecution,” Barone indicated.
What specific actions led to Hadi Matar’s conviction?
On August 12, 2022, Matar rushed the stage as Rushdie was introduced for a speaking event at the Chautauqua Institution. Rushdie, 77, suffered multiple stab wounds to the neck and abdomen, requiring hospitalization and placement on a ventilator due to damage to his liver, severed nerves in an arm, and severe risk of losing an eye.
Immediately following the stabbing, a small group of attendees surrounded Rushdie and elevated his legs to help circulate blood to his chest. He was subsequently airlifted to a nearby hospital, according to state police.
Matar was apprehended on the same day and charged with the stabbings of Rushdie and Henry Reese, a 75-year-old entrepreneur and advocate for international authors who was present on stage with Rushdie.
Salman Rushdie’s testimony during Hadi Matar’s trial
During the two-week trial, the prosecution presented over a dozen witnesses, including Rushdie himself, as reported by the Washington Post.
In his testimony last week, Rushdie recounted the harrowing attempt on his life in vivid detail, detailing the permanent injuries he sustained from the attack, including the loss of sight in his right eye.
Rushdie shared the overwhelming sensation of “great pain and shock” he felt upon realizing the significant amount of blood he was lying in, according to the outlet.
“It occurred to me quite clearly that I was dying,” Rushdie stated while on the witness stand, as reported by the Post. “That was my primary thought.”
What motivated Matar to target Rushdie?
According to the indictment, Matar’s actions were inspired by a 2006 address made by the leader of the militant organization Hezbollah, which incited him to assault Rushdie due to accusations of blasphemy related to his novel “The Satanic Verses.”
Following the publication of this book, Rushdie faced a ban in India and went into hiding after Iran’s Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa mandating his death. Eventually, Rushdie emerged from hiding and began living in New York.
Matar, who is a U.S.-born citizen with dual citizenship in Lebanon, identifies as a Muslim, as reported by the Washington Post.
In an interview conducted while in jail with the New York Post, Matar referred to Rushdie as “someone who attacked Islam” and remarked that he was not a “particularly good person.” He expressed his shock at Rushdie’s survival after being stabbed approximately 15 times during the attack.
Matar still faces federal charges related to terrorism as a result of the attack, according to CNN.
Contributors: Anthony Robledo & Barbara VanDenburgh/ USA TODAY
