Hadi Matar convicted of attempted murder, faces 25 years for stabbing Salman Rushdie

Hadi Matar, a 27-year-old from New Jersey, has been convicted of attempted murder for the brutal stabbing of author Salman Rushdie during a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution in August 2022. The jury reached their verdict after less than two hours of deliberation, also finding Matar guilty of assault for injuring another individual on stage. Rushdie provided gripping testimony about the attack, which left him with severe injuries, including the loss of vision in one eye. Matar faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for April 23. During trial proceedings, Matar expressed admiration for the late Iranian Ayatollah Khomeini, who had previously issued a fatwa against Rushdie, although he denied reading Rushdie's controversial book. The prosecution emphasized strong video evidence that contributed to a compelling case against Matar.