A jury found Hadi Matar guilty of federal terrorism charges linked to the 2022 assault on author Salman Rushdie. The trial, which included charges of transnational terrorism, concluded with a swift verdict after several hours of deliberation. Rushdie faced the attack during an event focused on writer safety, resulting in severe injuries and the loss of vision in his right eye.
Prosecutors credited Matar’s motivation to the 1989 fatwa issued by the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. This call for Rushdie’s death followed the controversy surrounding his novel “The Satanic Verses.” Iran’s current government denies involvement in the stabbing.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg emphasized the global implications of the attack and commended the verdict. Despite the jury’s decision, Matar’s defense claimed the government lacked evidence of his intentions. Matar did not testify during the trial, and Rushdie noted the widespread nature of his wounds but did not speculate on Matar’s motivations.
Having already been convicted of attempted murder in New York state, Matar faces a potential life sentence at his federal sentencing on November 3. Prosecutors presented evidence that Matar discussed the fatwa in messages in 2021 and 2022, expressing feelings of insult concerning Rushdie’s survival and remarks from Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Born in the United States, Matar also holds Lebanese citizenship and showed support for Hezbollah, as evident in photos found in his New Jersey home. His planning for the attack lasted months, with electronic communications indicating his intent to “expose” and later harm Rushdie.
On the day of the attack at the Chautauqua Institution, Matar executed his plan after detailed tracking of Rushdie’s public appearances. Amid the chaos on stage, spectators, along with another speaker, Henry Reese, assisted Rushdie as law enforcement apprehended Matar.
Salman Rushdie has continued his literary work since, publishing a memoir in 2024 about the attack. His subsequent fiction book, “The Eleventh Hour,” was released in 2025. In recognition of his contributions, Rushdie received numerous accolades, including the Dayton Literary Peace Prize lifetime achievement award.