Nearly four years after the attack that shocked the literary world, Hadi Matar has been found guilty of several federal terrorism-related offenses by a U.S. court. The jury convicted him of committing an act of transnational terrorism and providing material support to Hezbollah, a Lebanese organization designated as a terrorist group by the United States. This decision comes on top of the sentence handed down in 2025 by a New York State court. Hadi Matar is already serving a 25-year prison sentence for attempted murder and assault after stabbing Salman Rushdie multiple times during a conference in Chautauqua, New York, on August 12, 2022.
The accusation was based on the fatwa against Salman Rushdie
During the federal trial, prosecutors explained that Hadi Matar acted because of the fatwa issued in 1989 by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini after the publication of the novel The Satanic VersesAccording to the prosecution, the man also shared Hezbollah's ideology and had sought to answer the call against the writer. After several hours of deliberation, the jury returned a guilty verdict on all counts. Hadi Matar now faces a sentence of up to life imprisonment. The verdict will be delivered on November 3.
Salman Rushdie still suffers from serious aftereffects.
Now 79 years old, Salman Rushdie testified during the proceedings. The writer recalled losing the use of his right eye as a result of the attack. He also suffers from permanent nerve damage and serious injuries sustained during the stabbing. Despite these aftereffects, he resumed his writing career and published in 2024 The Knife, a book in which he recounts the attack, his recovery and the physical and psychological consequences of this assassination attempt.
A case that has become a symbol of freedom of expression
The attack against Salman Rushdie sparked outrage worldwide. Since the publication of Satanic verses In 1988, the writer lived under threat due to a fatwa issued by the Iranian regime. Hadi Matar's federal conviction marks a new legal development in this case, nearly four years after the attack.
