Hadi Matar was convicted on Wednesday of federal terrorism charges for the 2022 stabbing of Salman Rushdie, an author who has faced longstanding death threats over his controversial novel “The Satanic Verses.” A jury deliberated for only a few hours before finding Matar guilty of all charges, including an act of transnational terrorism. Salman Rushdie was set to speak about writer safety when the attack occurred in an amphitheater. He was slashed 15 times, resulting in severe injuries and the loss of sight in his right eye.
Prosecutors claimed that Matar was influenced by the 1989 decree of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who called for Rushdie’s death over the book. The Iranian government has denied any involvement in the attack, despite allegations. Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg remarked that the attack was a stark reminder of Iranian terrorism’s extensive reach.
“His brutal attack on Mr. Rushdie during a peaceful speaking event is a chilling reminder of the global reach of Iranian terrorism,” Eisenberg stated, emphasizing that “justice has been done.”
During the trial, Matar’s defense lawyer, Nathaniel Barone, argued that the prosecution lacked evidence of Matar’s intent. Matar chose not to testify, while Rushdie spoke to the jury, recounting his ordeal but claiming he could not determine Matar’s motives. Matar is already serving a 25-year state prison sentence for attempted murder and faces a potential life sentence at his federal sentencing on November 3.
Salman Rushdie is known for his celebrated novel “Midnight’s Children,” which won a Booker Prize. “The Satanic Verses,” published in 1988, earned both critical acclaim and fierce backlash, particularly within Muslim communities due to perceived blasphemous depictions of the Prophet Muhammad. The ensuing controversy led to significant violence, resulting in at least 45 deaths during riots. Additionally, a translator and publisher connected to the book faced deadly attacks.
Despite distancing by Iran’s government in 1998 from Khomeini’s religious edict, which called for Rushdie’s assassination, the threat was reaffirmed by Khomeini’s successor Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in 2017. Moreover, an Iranian foundation maintains a bounty exceeding $3 million for Rushdie’s death.
According to prosecutors, Matar discussed the fatwa in messaging apps, critical of Rushdie for surviving and allegedly insulting Islam. Evidence presented in court showed Matar’s planning in 2021 and 2022, revealing his intent to harm Rushdie.
Born in the U.S. but also holding Lebanese citizenship, Matar expressed admiration for Hezbollah, as shown in photos found in his New Jersey home. U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo noted that Matar spent extensive time planning the attack on Rushdie. Electronic messages indicated Matar tracked Rushdie’s movements to target him during a scheduled talk in August 2022.
During Rushdie’s introduction, Matar attacked him on stage, but spectators and speaker Henry Reese quickly intervened. Law enforcement, present at the venue, managed to detain Matar with the help of the audience.
After the attack, Rushdie penned a memoir released in 2024, recounting the ordeal. He also resumed his fiction writing with the book “The Eleventh Hour.” Knighted by the late Queen Elizabeth II, Rushdie was also honored with a lifetime achievement award from the Dayton Literary Peace Prize.