Hadi Matar Sentenced to 25 Years for Rushdie Stabbing Incident

The sentencing of Hadi Matar marks a significant moment in a long-standing saga of controversy and violence against free expression.

A New Jersey man, Hadi Matar, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Friday for his brutal attack on the acclaimed novelist Sir Salman Rushdie during a lecture in New York. Matar, now 27, previously faced charges of attempted murder and assault, following the violent August 2022 incident which left Rushdie partially blinded and with serious injuries.

The novelist was speaking to an audience when he was ambushed and stabbed multiple times by Matar, leaving him with one eye now permanently damaged, liver injuries, and nerve damage that has rendered his hand partially paralyzed. Following a trial that concluded in February 2025, Matar received the maximum sentence of 25 years for attempted murder, alongside a seven-year term for assaulting the interviewer, Henry Reese. Both sentences will run concurrently as they stemmed from the same criminal act, as clarified by Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt.

During his sentencing, Matar stood in court, handcuffed and dressed in jail attire, asserting his views on freedom of speech while labeling Rushdie a “hypocrite.” He expressed a belief that Rushdie disrespected others and accused him of bullying. Notably, Sir Salman did not attend the court proceedings, opting instead to focus on his recovery.

In the trial, Rushdie recounted the harrowing moment of the attack, describing a chilling encounter with Matar, whose eyes he found to be menacing. The prosecution painted the act as premeditated, underscoring that, amidst a crowd, Rushdie was particularly singled out, emphasizing the attack's targeted nature. The defense, however, claimed there was insufficient evidence to prove Matar aimed to kill Rushdie, and he did not take the stand in his own defense.

In the wake of the attack, which harkens back to the violent backlash against Rushdie’s 1988 novel "The Satanic Verses," calls for his death from certain factions have lingered since the issuance of a fatwa by Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini. Despite decades of threats, Rushdie shared that he felt the risks to his life had subsided until that fateful day. Post-assault, he encapsulated his ordeal and healing in his memoir titled "Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder," chronicling both his traumatic experience and profound reflections on identity and existence.