Hadi Matar Convicted of Federal Terrorism Charges for Salman Rushdie Attack

A federal jury in New York found Hadi Matar guilty of federal terrorism charges stemming from the 2022 stabbing of author Salman The Hindu, according to Newsonair. Matar, 28, was convicted on all counts after a two-hour deliberation on a Wednesday following a trial where Rushdie testified. The charges included engaging in an act of transnational terrorism and attempting to provide material support to Hezbollah, an organization designated as a terrorist group by the United States.

Federal Jury Convicts Hadi Matar of Terrorism and Hezbollah Support

Matar is already serving a 25-year New York state prison sentence following a separate conviction for attempted murder in connection with the August 12, 2022 attack, according to Telegraph India. That state conviction concluded when he was sentenced in May of the previous year. Following his federal conviction, Matar now faces a potential maximum sentence of life imprisonment, with his federal sentencing scheduled for November 3 before US District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

Details of the 2022 Attack at the Chautauqua Institution

The assault took place on August 12, 2022, at the Chautauqua Institution in Mayville, New York, where Rushdie was preparing to deliver a speech concerning writers’ safety. According to evidence and testimony presented during the trial, Matar rushed the amphitheatre stage and stabbed the author 15 times, inflicting severe wounds to the head, neck, torso, and hand, and causing internal organ damage.

Man who stabbed author Salman Rushdie convicted of ‘terrorism’ charges — Photo: Al Jazeera

The attack left the Booker Prize-winning novelist gravely wounded and resulted in the permanent loss of sight in his right eye. A second person was also injured during the incident before members of the audience intervened to subdue the attacker. During the federal trial, Rushdie testified for nearly an hour about the assault and credited a firefighter with helping save his life. In the aftermath of the attack, Rushdie published a memoir in April 2024 titled Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder, recounting the experience, his recovery, and emotional healing.

Prosecutors Cite Fatwa and Hezbollah Ideology

Federal prosecutors argued during the trial that Matar spent more than a year researching a decades-old fatwa and immersing himself in violent ideology. The decree was originally issued in 1989 by Iran’s then-Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, calling for Rushdie’s death following the 1988 publication of his novel The Satanic Verses, which Khomeini declared blasphemous. Iran has denied any involvement in the attack.

Hadi Matar Convicted of Federal Terrorism Charges for Salman Rushdie Attack — Photo: Telegraph India

Trial evidence indicated that Matar discussed the fatwa and Hezbollah’s endorsement of it with individuals in Iran, Australia, and Canada. Investigators told the court that Matar created videos titled Rushdie_Fatwa 2.0 and Rushdie_Fatwa 1.6 featuring content about the decree alongside footage of former Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah endorsing it in 2006. Additionally, investigators stated that Matar surrounded himself with Hezbollah symbols, traveled to the Chautauqua Institution using the false name Hassan Mughniyeh on a fake driver’s licence, and visited a Hezbollah website on the morning of the attack to view screenshots of the group’s “martyrs.” Defense lawyers argued during the proceedings that the attack did not constitute an act of terrorism.

Official Reactions to the Verdict

Following the jury’s verdict, federal officials emphasized the broader implications of the case regarding international terrorism. US Attorney Michael DiGiacomo for the Western District of New York stated that Matar chose to align his values with the terroristic values of the leaders of Iran.

Salman Rushdie Attacker Convicted: Hadi Matar Found Guilty In Federal Terrorism Trial

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg described the assault in a statement reported by Al Jazeera as a chilling reminder of the global reach of Iranian terrorism, adding that justice has been done.