A jury in New Jersey found Hadi Matar guilty of attempted murder on Friday. He attacked author Salman Rushdie on a New York lecture stage in 2022. The jury needed less than two hours to reach a verdict. Additionally, they convicted Matar of assault for injuring another man on stage.
Brutal Attack Left Rushdie Blind in One Eye
On August 12, 2022, Matar suddenly rushed onto the stage at the Chautauqua Institution. At that moment, Rushdie was preparing to speak. Without hesitation, Matar stabbed him more than a dozen times. As a result, the shocking attack left the 77-year-old writer blind in one eye.
During the trial, Rushdie testified for seven days. He described his severe injuries and the long, painful recovery that followed.
Matar Showed No Emotion After the Verdict
When the jury announced the verdict, Matar remained silent. He looked down at the defense table but did not react. However, as officers escorted him out in handcuffs, he quietly said, “Free Palestine.” He had repeatedly made this statement during the trial.
Meanwhile, the judge scheduled his sentencing for April 23. If given the maximum penalty, Matar could face up to 25 years in prison. According to his public defender, Nathaniel Barone, Matar felt disappointed but had prepared himself for the outcome.
Prosecutors Prove Matar Intended to Kill
During the closing argument, District Attorney Jason Schmidt played a slow-motion video of the attack. The footage clearly showed Matar rushing onto the stage, moving toward Rushdie, and stabbing him repeatedly.
“I want you to look at the unprovoked nature of this attack,” Schmidt stated. “I want you to look at the targeted nature of the attack. There were a lot of people around that day, but there was only one person who was targeted.”
On the other hand, defense attorney Andrew Brautigan argued that the prosecution failed to prove Matar intended to kill Rushdie. He insisted that Matar’s goal remained unclear. “You will agree something bad happened to Mr. Rushdie, but you don’t know what Mr. Matar’s conscious objective was,” Brautigan told the jury. Furthermore, he pointed out that Matar carried only knives—not a gun or bomb.
However, Schmidt rejected that claim. “If you stab someone 10 or 15 times in the face and neck, it’s foreseeable that it could be fatal,” he argued.
Rushdie Describes Attack in Graphic Detail
Rushdie, a Booker Prize-winning author, gave a powerful testimony. He told jurors that he believed he was dying. As he recalled, a masked man ran at him, stabbing and slashing until bystanders intervened. In a dramatic moment, Rushdie removed his dark glasses to reveal his blinded right eye.
Schmidt then reminded jurors of a trauma surgeon’s testimony. The doctor had explained that Rushdie’s injuries would have been fatal without immediate medical help.
As part of the evidence, the court watched a video of Matar sneaking up behind Rushdie. The footage showed Matar reaching around and stabbing at Rushdie’s torso. In response, Rushdie raised his arms and tried to escape. However, Matar clung to him, continuing to stab until they both fell. At that point, onlookers rushed in to separate them.
A particularly shocking frame in the video showed Rushdie lying on the ground. His face and hands were covered in blood. “We’ve shown you intent,” Schmidt concluded.
Audience Shocked as Violence Unfolded
During the attack, the audience gasped and screamed. Many had gathered to hear Rushdie discuss freedom of expression and writer safety. Unfortunately, the attack also injured Henry Reese, co-founder of City of Asylum Pittsburgh. He suffered a deep cut to his forehead, leading to Matar’s assault charge.
In addition, multiple witnesses identified Matar as the attacker.
Rushdie sustained severe stab wounds to his head, throat, torso, thigh, and hand. He spent 17 days in a Pennsylvania hospital. After that, he stayed more than three weeks at a New York rehabilitation center. Later, he detailed his painful recovery in his 2024 memoir, Knife.
Matar’s Defense Claims Rushdie’s Fame Influenced Charges
Throughout the trial, Matar often took notes. Occasionally, he smiled and joked with his defense team. Despite the serious charges, his lawyers chose not to call any witnesses. Additionally, Matar did not testify in his own defense.
Meanwhile, his public defender, Nathaniel Barone, argued that Rushdie’s fame influenced the case. “We think it became an attempted murder because of the notoriety of the alleged victim,” Barone told reporters. “That’s been it from the beginning. It’s for publicity.”
Federal Terrorism Trial Awaits
Apart from this case, Matar also faces federal terrorism-related charges. Prosecutors claim that Matar was motivated by a 2006 Hezbollah speech. In that speech, the group’s leader supported a fatwa calling for Rushdie’s death.
Originally, Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued the fatwa in 1989. He condemned Rushdie’s novel The Satanic Verses, which some Muslims found offensive.
For years, Rushdie lived in hiding. However, after Iran announced it would not enforce the fatwa, he resumed public life. Sadly, Matar’s attack reignited concerns about his safety.
Now, Matar must also stand trial in U.S. District Court in Buffalo for terrorism-related charges.
