Fri May 16 15:28:18 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Hadi Matar, the man convicted of stabbing Salman Rushdie on stage in 2022, was sentenced to 25 years in prison. The attack left Rushdie blind in one eye. Matar, who claimed Rushdie was a “hypocrite” and “bully,” received the maximum sentence for attempted murder and assault. The attack stemmed from a decades-old fatwa issued against Rushdie for his book “The Satanic Verses.” Matar faces a separate federal trial on terrorism-related charges.

**News Article:**

**Rushdie Assailant Sentenced to 25 Years; Faces Terrorism Trial**

**MAYVILLE, NY (May 16, 2025) –** Hadi Matar, the 27-year-old man convicted of the 2022 on-stage stabbing of author Salman Rushdie, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Friday. The attack at the Chautauqua Institution in New York left Rushdie blind in one eye and sparked global outrage.

A jury found Matar guilty of attempted murder and assault earlier this year. Rushdie, who testified during the trial, submitted a victim impact statement but did not attend the sentencing.

Before receiving his sentence, Matar addressed the court, calling Rushdie a “hypocrite” and accusing him of bullying. “Salman Rushdie wants to disrespect other people,” he said.

Judge Jason Schmidt imposed the maximum sentence, emphasizing the premeditated nature of the attack. “He designed this attack so that he could inflict the most amount of damage, not just upon Mr. Rushdie, but upon this community,” Schmidt stated.

The attack is believed to be linked to a 1989 fatwa issued by Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, calling for Rushdie’s death over his novel “The Satanic Verses.” Matar, a U.S. citizen, faces a subsequent federal trial on terrorism-related charges, where prosecutors are expected to delve into his motive and alleged ties to Hezbollah. The video of the assault which captured the event was shown during the trial. The deliberation time lasted less than 2 hours.

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