US Federal Court Convicts Hadi Matar In Salman Rushdie Stabbing Case, Faces Possible Life Term

A US federal jury has convicted Hadi Matar, the man who stabbed author Salman Rushdie in 2022, on terrorism charges linked to support for Hezbollah and the attack carried out at a literary event in New York. The verdict was delivered in Buffalo after jurors took about two hours to reach their decision.

Matar, 28, was found guilty of attempting to provide material support to Hezbollah, providing support to terrorists, and committing an act of terrorism that crossed international borders. He was already serving a 25 year prison sentence after a state court convicted him of attempted murder and assault. The federal conviction could now lead to a life sentence, with sentencing scheduled for November 3, 2026.

Prosecutors said Matar planned the attack for months and was inspired by the 1989 fatwa issued by Iran’s Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini against Rushdie over his novel The Satanic Verses. They presented evidence showing Matar researched the fatwa, followed Hezbollah related content, and discussed the issue online before the attack.

Rushdie, 79, testified during the trial and described the August 12, 2022 attack at the Chautauqua Institution in New York. He told the court he suffered severe injuries, including the loss of sight in his right eye, nerve damage, and injuries to his internal organs.

The attack happened as Rushdie was preparing to speak about protecting writers. He later shared his recovery journey in his memoir Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder.

Federal officials said the verdict sends a message that planned acts of terror and support for extremist groups will be prosecuted.