Salman Rushdie's 2022 Attacker Sentenced to 25 Years in New York

Salman Rushdie expressed satisfaction with the 25-year prison sentence given to his attacker, Hadi Matar, who was convicted of attempted murder for the 2022 stabbing during a New York lecture. Rushdie, who sustained severe injuries including blindness in one eye, liver damage, and paralysis in his arm, described the sentence as the maximum possible and meaningful, hoping Matar uses the time to reflect on his actions. The attack was seen by the judge as an assault not just on Rushdie but on the fundamental right to freedom of expression. In response to the assault, Rushdie published a book titled "The Knife: Reflections on an Attack," which includes an imagined conversation with Matar, illustrating his way of coping and fighting back. This fictional dialogue was later brought to life in an AI animation by BBC filmmaker Alan Yentob, which Rushdie described as startling and impactful. Additionally, Rushdie paid tribute to Yentob, praising his legacy as a champion of the arts and a gifted friend during difficult times.