New Delhi: Hadi Matar, who attacked author Salman Rushdie, was found guilty of attempted murder and assault by a New York court. The verdict came after a two-week trial in Chautauqua County Court, in which the jury gave its verdict in less than two hours. 27-year-old Hadi Matar attacked Rushdie with a knife during a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution on August 12, 2022, in which the author suffered serious injuries, including loss of vision in his right eye and nerve damage in one hand.
Rushdie himself testified during the court hearing and shared horrific details of the attack. The prosecution showed video footage of the attack, in which Matar was seen running on stage and repeatedly stabbing Rushdie with a knife. District Attorney Jason Schmidt called it a well-planned and targeted attack. Matar's lawyer argued that the prosecution failed to prove that he had the intent to kill Rushdie, but the jury rejected this argument.
Sentencing on April 23
Matar will be sentenced on April 23, 2025, and faces a maximum of 32 years in prison for attempted murder. In addition, he may also face federal terrorism-related charges, which will be heard in a separate trial. The case is also linked to the fatwa issued in 1989 by Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini against Rushdie's novel "The Satanic Verses". After the attack, Matar said that he hated Rushdie because he attacked Islam. He also shouted "Free Palestine" slogans while leaving the court.
