Salman Rushdie’s attacker, Hadi Matar, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the attack that left the acclaimed author critically injured and blind in one eye. The defendant, who was found guilty of trying to kill Mr. Rushdie in 2022, claimed he believed the author was a hypocrite and a bully.
Mr. Rushdie had lived under threat of violence for decades after Iran’s top cleric labeled him a blasphemer over his novel “The Satanic Verses.” The judge ruled that the assault was against not only a man but also the right to free expression, which is fundamental to American society.
Hadi Matar, 27, had been found guilty in February of attempting to kill Mr. Rushdie during an attack at the Chautauqua Institution, where he was giving a talk on freedom of speech. The trial lasted less than two weeks and jurors returned their verdict after deliberating for under two hours.
Mr. Rushdie testified that he felt he was dying during the attack and had numerous stab wounds before bystanders intervened. His 1988 novel “The Satanic Verses” had sparked controversy in Iran, leading to a fatwa against him.
As part of his sentence, Hadi Matar will serve an additional seven years for assaulting Mr. Rushdie’s collaborator Ralph Henry Reese. The maximum possible punishment was sought by prosecutors, who said the attack had a significant impact on witnesses and victims, including over 1,400 people who witnessed the incident.
Mr. Rushdie has spoken publicly about the lasting effects of the attack, describing himself as traumatized with nightmares about his experience. His lawyers had requested a lighter sentence, but were unsuccessful in their bid to reduce Matar’s punishment.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/16/nyregion/salman-rushdie-hadi-matar-sentenced.html