A jury in western New York has convicted Hadi Matar, a 27-year-old from New Jersey, of attempted murder for the brutal stabbing of Indian-born British author Salman Rushdie. The verdict follows gripping testimony from Rushdie himself, who described the attack in chilling detail. Matar was also found guilty of assault for injuring Ralph Henry Reese, who was on stage moderating the event.
Matar faces up to 32 years in prison when he is sentenced on April 23. Additionally, he is confronted with federal terrorism-related charges, further compounding his legal troubles.
Attack on Rushdie
On August 12, 2022, Rushdie was scheduled to speak at the Chautauqua Institution when Matar, dressed in dark clothing and a face mask, stormed the stage and repeatedly stabbed him. Initially mistaking the attack for punches, Rushdie soon realised he was bleeding profusely.
The author of “Midnight’s Children” and “Victory City,” sustained severe injuries, including three stab wounds to his neck, four to his stomach, puncture wounds to his right eye and chest, and a deep cut on his thigh. He lost vision in one eye and suffered nerve damage in an arm, as well as liver damage. Reese, the co-founder of a program that supports persecuted writers, was also injured.
The Indian-born British-American author recounted the attack and his arduous recovery in his memoir, Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder, published last year.
Matar’s motivations have been scrutinised, particularly his possible ideological influences. When questioned about the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini—who issued a fatwa against Rushdie for his novel The Satanic Verses—Matar expressed admiration but denied having read the book in its entirety.
(With ANI inputs)