Man who stabbed author Salman Rushdie sentenced to 25 years of jail

Hadi Matar, the man responsible for the brutal stabbing of world-renowned author Salman Rushdie during a 2022 public event in New York, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. The verdict was delivered by a Western New York court on Friday after Matar was found guilty of attempted murder and assault earlier this year.

The attack occurred at the Chautauqua Institution, where Rushdie was scheduled to speak on writer safety. As the author was being introduced, Matar, then masked, rushed the stage and stabbed him multiple times in the head and torso. Rushdie, now 76 years old, lost vision in one eye and sustained long-term physical injuries.

Though Rushdie did not attend Friday’s sentencing, he provided a victim impact statement. During the trial, he recalled the terrifying moments of the attack in vivid detail, saying he genuinely believed he would not survive. His testimony was key in convincing the jury, which found Matar guilty in February.

In a brief statement before sentencing, Matar claimed he attacked Rushdie due to his views on free speech, labeling the author a "bully" and a "hypocrite." Wearing jail-issued striped clothing and handcuffs, Matar said, “Salman Rushdie wants to disrespect other people. He wants to be a bully. I don’t agree with that.”

Rushdie has been a controversial figure since the publication of his 1988 novel The Satanic Verses, which led to a fatwa calling for his assassination. For years, he lived under tight security, but had resumed public appearances in recent years until the attack reignited fears.