Hadi Matar Sentenced to 25 Years for Attack on Salman Rushdie

Hadi Matar, 27, received the maximum sentence after a brutal attack on Sir Salman Rushdie left the author partially blind and severely injured.

A New Jersey resident, Hadi Matar, was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the attempted murder of novelist Sir Salman Rushdie. Matar, who stabbed Rushdie multiple times during an event at Chautauqua Institution in August 2022, was found guilty earlier this year of attempted murder and assault. The attack caused severe injuries to Rushdie, including vision loss in one eye and significant damage to his liver and arm. Although the attack stemmed from long-standing controversies surrounding Rushdie’s work, Matar expressed his intent during sentencing, accusing the author of hypocrisy concerning freedom of speech. He also received a concurrent seven-year sentence for injuring interviewee Henry Reese. Despite the severity of the crime and rush of the trial, Matar maintained his not-guilty plea and did not offer a defense. In sharp contrast, Rushdie described the assault as life-threatening, recalling the moment he realized he was in grave danger. Following the incident, Rushdie documented his recovery and experiences in a memoir, emphasizing the lasting impact of the attack on his life.