New Jersey Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Attack on Author Salman Rushdie

Hadi Matar was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the attempted murder of Salman Rushdie, who was left partially blinded and severely injured following the attack. This verdict comes after a year filled with legal proceedings and intense public scrutiny.

A New Jersey resident, Hadi Matar, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for the attempted murder of the renowned author Salman Rushdie. The sentencing, delivered by Judge David Foley, follows Matar's conviction earlier this year for the shocking stabbing that occurred on a New York stage in August 2022.

During a public lecture, Matar, now 27, attacked Rushdie, inflicting multiple stab wounds to his face and neck. The assault left the famed writer partially blind in one eye, caused liver damage, and resulted in nerve injuries that paralyzed his hand. This act sparked widespread outrage and discussions about free speech and security for public figures.

Matar received the maximum sentence of 25 years for the attempted murder charge. In addition, he was found guilty of assaulting Henry Reese, the individual interviewing Rushdie at the time. Matar was sentenced to an additional seven years for that assault, although these sentences will run concurrently since both actions were part of the same incident.

Before the sentencing, Matar, donning white-striped jail attire and handcuffs, made a statement about freedom of speech. He derided Rushdie, labeling him a hypocrite and claiming the author had bullied others. “Salman Rushdie wants to disrespect other people,” he asserted, expressing his disapproval of Rushdie’s controversial works.

Rushdie did not attend the sentencing hearing, having previously testified in a gripping trial in February 2025 about his near-fatal encounter. He shared his horrifying experience, which left him believing he was going to die when Matar lunged at him. Prosecutors emphasized that the attack was premeditated and targeted Rushdie amidst a crowded venue.

Defense attorney Andrew Brautigan contended that the prosecution's evidence did not prove Matar's intent to kill, a claim that Matar himself did not support as he chose not to testify during the trial. Matar has openly criticized Rushdie in the past and expressed admiration for Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini's 1989 fatwa against the author following the publication of "The Satanic Verses," a novel that has fueled controversy for decades.

Following years of living under threat due to his literary work, Rushdie had begun to reclaim a semblance of normality, claiming his life was relatively peaceful just prior to the brutal attack. Since then, he has detailed his recovery journey in his memoir "Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder," highlighting the long path back to stability and creativity after the life-altering violence he endured.