Salman Rushdie's attacker sentenced to 32 years in prison
What's the story
Hadi Matar, the man convicted for attempting to murder renowned author Salman Rushdie, has been sentenced to 32 years in prison. A jury in western New York delivered the verdict on February 21. The attack occurred on August 12, 2022, at the Chautauqua Institution where the Booker Prize-winning author was scheduled to deliver a talk.
Attack details
Rushdie's injuries and attacker's background revealed
Matar, disguised in dark clothes and a face mask, ambushed the stage and stabbed Rushdie multiple times. The author suffered serious injuries, including stab wounds to his neck, stomach, right eye, chest, and leg. This brutal assault left Rushdie blind in one eye and severely damaged his liver and intestines. He also lost the use of one hand due to these injuries.
Attacker profile
Matar's motive and influence behind the attack
Matar, a 27-year-old from Fairview, New Jersey, holds dual citizenship in the United States and Lebanon. Along with the prison sentence, he also faces federal terrorism-related charges. Matar had a grudge against Rushdie, accusing him of attacking Islam according to the New York Post. He admitted to having read only "a couple of pages" of Rushdie's controversial novel The Satanic Verses.
Upcoming sentencing
Matar's additional charges and sentencing date
Reportedly, Matar was inspired by a 2006 speech of a leader from Hezbollah endorsing a fatwa or edict against Rushdie issued by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The fatwa called for Rushdie's death over his book The Satanic Verses. Matar was also charged with attempted murder for stabbing Henry Reese, co-founder of Pittsburgh's City of Asylum.