A jury convicted Hadi Matar on federal terrorism charges for the 2022 stabbing of author Salman Rushdie. The verdict followed a short deliberation period, where jurors found him guilty of transnational terrorism, among other charges. Matar was motivated by a 1989 fatwa issued by the late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, demanding Rushdie’s death over his novel “The Satanic Verses.”
Rushdie, an acclaimed author, was attacked on stage in New York while preparing to speak on writers’ safety. He suffered severe injuries, including the loss of sight in his right eye. Prosecutors presented evidence of Matar’s intent, showing his admiration for Hezbollah and communications discussing plans to harm Rushdie.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg condemned the attack as a representation of Iranian terrorism’s global reach. Despite the Iranian government denying involvement, evidence linked the attack to the fatwa and Matar’s personal motivations and communications supporting Hezbollah, designated a terrorist organization by the U.S.
Matar, declining to testify, was already serving a 25-year state sentence for attempted murder. His federal sentencing is scheduled, with the potential for a life sentence. Meanwhile, Rushdie’s literary achievements, including his memoir about the attack and subsequent fiction, continue to be recognized. He was recently awarded a lifetime achievement award from the Dayton Literary Peace Prize.
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