Hadi Matar Sentenced to 25 Years for Stabbing Salman Rushdie

A New Jersey man was sentenced to 25 years in prison for his attempted murder of Sir Salman Rushdie, leaving the famed novelist with severe injuries and renewed discussions on the limits of free expression.

Hadi Matar, 27, who attacked Sir Salman Rushdie on stage in August 2022, has been sentenced to 25 years after being convicted of attempted murder and assault. Rushdie was delivering a lecture at a Chautauqua, New York arts festival when he was repeatedly stabbed, resulting in partial blindness and significant physical injuries. Matar's sentencing also included a seven-year term for assault directed at Rushdie's interviewer, Henry Reese, though both sentences will run concurrently.

The attack was particularly shocking given Rushdie's enduring legacy as a target of violence since the publication of his controversial novel "The Satanic Verses" 35 years ago, which drew global ire and death threats, particularly following Iran's fatwa against him. During the trial, Rushdie recounted his harrowing experience of the attack, describing Matar's eyes as “dark and ferocious” as he rushed towards him.

Before his sentencing, Matar proclaimed his disdain for Rushdie, referring to him as a hypocrite and expressing his belief that the author disrespects others. Matar's defense centered on a lack of intent to kill, and he pleaded not guilty throughout the proceedings, opting not to testify in his own defense.

Rushdie, meanwhile, was unable to attend the court proceedings, having dedicated significant time to recovery, and has detailed the psychological and physical impact of the attack in his memoir, "Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder." The events surrounding the stabbing reignite debates over freedom of speech, respect for religious sentiments, and the consequences of literary expression in a volatile world.