In a New York federal court, Hadi Matar, a U.S. inmate already serving 25 years for an attempted murder of Sir Salman Rushdie, was convicted of providing material support to Hezbollah.
Prosecutors cited a 1989 Iran fatwa ordering Rushdie’s death and a 2006 Hezbollah call for its enforcement, framing Matar’s plot as a transnational terrorist act that spanned two years.
Rushdie testified, describing the July 2024 stabbing that left him with multiple wounds and partial blindness, and praised a local firefighter who delivered emergency care.
The court’s verdict now exposes Matar to a potential life sentence in addition to his existing term, underscoring the intersection of literary controversy, international terrorism, and U.S. justice policy.
