Man Convicted of Attempted Murder of Author Salman Rushdie
A man has been found guilty of the attempted murder of renowned author Salman Rushdie. Hadi Matar, the assailant, stormed the stage at the Chautauqua Institution in New York, where Rushdie was scheduled to deliver a lecture on August 12, 2022. In a shocking act of violence, Matar stabbed Rushdie 15 times while horrified audience members looked on.
The brutal attack left the 77-year-old British-American novelist permanently blind in one eye. In addition to the loss of vision, he sustained severe injuries to his eye, cheek, back, chest, torso, thigh, and liver. Tragically, the attack also resulted in nerve damage to his arm, rendering him with a paralyzed hand.
Matar was convicted after a two-week trial held in Chautauqua County Court, located near the site of the attack. Prosecutors have indicated that Matar could face a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison for his conviction on attempted murder in the second degree. District Attorney Jason Schmidt emphasized the severity of the crime, noting that the maximum sentence reflects the gravity of Matar’s actions.
Throughout the trial, Rushdie served as the key witness, providing harrowing testimony over the course of seven days. He described in graphic detail the life-threatening injuries he endured and the long, painful journey of his recovery. When the jury delivered their verdict, Matar looked downward, showing no visible reaction. As he was escorted out of the courtroom in handcuffs, he quietly stated, “Free Palestine,” a phrase he has frequently uttered during his appearances in court.
In a statement following the verdict, Matar’s attorney, Nathaniel Barone, expressed disappointment but acknowledged that he had been prepared for the outcome. District Attorney Schmidt commented on the strength of the evidence, stating, “We had a number of different angles to show the jurors. It really is as compelling as it can possibly get.” He also asserted, “Mr. Matar came into this community as a visitor. And really, it’s my job to make sure that he stays a resident of New York state for the next 25 years.”
Salman Rushdie’s literary career began in the early 1970s, gaining immense recognition for his novel Midnight’s Children, which explores the Partition of India and won the Booker Prize in 1981. However, Rushdie’s life took a dangerous turn following the publication of The Satanic Verses in 1988. Many in the Muslim community deemed his portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad blasphemous, leading to a fatwa issued by Iran’s then-leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989, which called for Rushdie’s assassination.
For nearly a decade, Rushdie was forced into hiding under the protection of the British government. In 1998, the Iranian government announced that it no longer supported the killing of Rushdie, allowing him to gradually return to public life. He even made a cameo appearance as himself in the 2001 film Bridget Jones’s Diary.
Despite the Iranian government’s change in stance, the fatwa remains in effect, and as recently as 2016, money was raised to increase the reward for Rushdie’s assassination. In recognition of his contributions to literature, Rushdie was knighted in 2008 and was made a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour earlier this year as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Additional reporting by AP.
