A man from New Jersey, Hadi Matar, 27, has been handed a 25-year prison sentence for his brutal attack on novelist Sir Salman Rushdie during a lecture in New York. Matar was found guilty of attempted murder and assault for the stabbing incident that occurred in August 2022, which left Rushdie partially blind after he was stabbed multiple times in the face and neck.
The attack stemmed from longstanding controversy surrounding Rushdie’s novel “The Satanic Verses,” which has made him a target for threats over the last 35 years. In court, Matar received the maximum sentence, joining his attempted murder conviction with a seven-year sentence for wounding the person interviewing Rushdie, Henry Reese. The sentences will run concurrently due to the nature of the attack.
Before his sentencing, Matar claimed Rushdie disrespected others and criticized him for his free speech stance. Not present at the hearing, Rushdie previously recounted his terrifying experience and the drastic effects the attack had on his health, including damage to his eye and appendages.
Known for both his writing and the threats against his life, Rushdie had enjoyed a sense of normalcy in recent times due to dwindling fears of violence, making the attack a shocking development for many. Matar’s actions triggered an immediate outpouring of support for Rushdie across the literary community, drawing attention to the issues of free speech and safety for writers worldwide.
Despite Matar's claim that he did not intend to kill Rushdie, prosecutors argued the attack was premeditated. Matar's comments and actions reflect the complex tensions surrounding freedom of expression, belief, and violence in today's society. Sir Salman has since worked on his memoir detailing his survival and recovery, offering insight into his life after the attack.
