Hadi Matar found guilty of stabbing Salman Rushdie

A federal jury in the United States has convicted Hadi Matar, 28, of a violent act related to the near-fatal stabbing of author Salman Rushdie in August 2022. The attack, which occurred at a cultural center in New York, left the acclaimed novelist blind in one eye and severely injured. During the trial, US Assistant Attorney General Michael DiGiacomo presented evidence that Matar, an American citizen of Lebanese descent, aligned his actions with the violent ideology promoted by Iranian leaders. DiGiacomo stated that Matar spent months planning the stabbing, which almost claimed Rushdie's life. Investigators also discovered materials linked to the Iranian-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah at Matar's home, leading to his conviction for supporting the organization. Prosecutors argued that Matar acted upon a fatwa, or religious decree, calling for Rushdie's death. This decree was first issued in 1989 by Iran's former leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini over Rushdie's depiction of the Prophet Muhammad in his novel "The Satanic Verses." The fatwa was reportedly reaffirmed in 2017 by Iran's current Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and supported in a 2006 speech by Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. "The brutal attack on Mr. Rushdie while he was attending a peaceful lecture event is a chilling reminder of the global reach of Iranian violence," DiGiacomo said. Rushdie himself testified during Matar's trial, providing a detailed account of the assault that took place at the Chautauqua Institution during a conference on free speech. Matar, then 24, rushed the stage and repeatedly stabbed Rushdie with a knife. Matar is scheduled to be sentenced on November 3.

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Hadi Matar, 28, a Lebanese-American, chose to align his held values with the values of violence of Iranian leaders.