Hadi Matar, who stabbed author Salman Rushdie in the United States four years ago, was found guilty on Wednesday of committing “an act of terrorism” influenced by his support for Iran and the Lebanese group Hezbollah. His actions could lead to a life sentence, according to reports from AFP and Reuters.
Already sentenced to 25 years in prison by a New York court in May 2025 for attempted murder against the 79-year-old author, Matar’s new sentencing is scheduled for November 3, as confirmed by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The 28-year-old was convicted by a federal court for attempting to provide material support to Hezbollah, deemed a terrorist organization, and for terrorism that transcends national borders, as well as providing material support to terrorists.
The New York Times reported that the jury in the Buffalo trial reached a verdict after only two hours of deliberation following a week of hearings.
According to the prosecution, Matar was motivated by a fatwa issued in 1989 by then-Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini against Rushdie, author of “The Satanic Verses,” which many Muslims regard as blasphemous.
Charges Against Hadi Matar
Matar, an American-Lebanese, was also accused of supporting Hezbollah, a pro-Iranian movement classified as a terrorist organization by the United States.
Prosecutors alleged that he researched and recorded videos related to this fatwa. Photos and materials linked to the group were found at Matar’s home, where he also possessed a fake driver’s license in the name of a Hezbollah leader.
“Matar spent more than a year deepening his understanding of Hezbollah’s violent ideology and preparing to act on behalf of this fatwa issued by Iranian ayatollahs calling for Rushdie’s death,” said U.S. Deputy Attorney General John Eisenberg in a statement.
The assailant “chose to align his values with the terrorist values of Iranian leaders,” federal prosecutor Michael DiGiacomo asserted.
Matar’s defense argued that he did not act on behalf of any terrorist organization, despite being driven by anger towards Rushdie over the supposedly blasphemous nature of his book. Matar’s attorney has announced plans to appeal the conviction.
