Hadi Matar Sentenced to 25 Years for Stabbing Author Salman Rushdie

A man convicted of stabbing award-winning British author Salman Rushdie in 2022 has been sentenced to 25 years in prison, the maximum allowed by law. The court’s decision was handed down on Friday, drawing attention to the serious implications of the attack.

Hadi Matar, 27, faced conviction in February for attempted murder and assault in connection with the brutal knife attack that left Rushdie permanently blind in one eye. The event took place during a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution, where Rushdie was preparing to address an audience.

On the day of the attack, the renowned author was airlifted to a hospital in northwestern Pennsylvania, where he spent nearly three weeks recovering from life-threatening injuries. These included severe wounds to his liver, arm, and eye.

Details of the Attack

Rushdie, now 77 years old, has long been a controversial figure due to his 1988 novel “The Satanic Verses.” This work ignited worldwide protests and led Iran’s Ayatollah Ruhollah Khamenei to issue a fatwa calling for Rushdie’s death. Matar reportedly carried out the attack motivated by these historical tensions surrounding Rushdie’s literary work.

In addition to the sentence handed down for attacking Rushdie, Matar received an additional seven years for stabbing another individual who was present on stage during the incident. This additional sentence is to be served concurrently with the primary sentence.