A New York federal jury has convicted Hadi Matar on terrorism charges related to the 2022 stabbing of author Salman Rushdie, who had faced a longstanding death threat over his novel "The Satanic Verses." Matar, 28, was found guilty of all counts, including engaging in an act of transnational terrorism. He is already serving a 25-year state prison sentence for attempted murder in connection with the attack. The federal conviction carries a potential life sentence.

The stabbing occurred in August 2022 at the Chautauqua Institution, an arts and intellectual center in western New York, where Rushdie was scheduled to speak on writers’ safety. As Rushdie was being introduced, Matar climbed onto the stage and stabbed him 15 times. Rushdie was gravely injured, losing sight in his right eye. Spectators and a fellow speaker intervened, and law enforcement officers assigned to the event apprehended Matar.

Prosecutors argued that Matar’s actions were motivated by the 1989 fatwa issued by Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which called for Rushdie’s death over perceived blasphemy in "The Satanic Verses." They presented evidence including communications in which Matar expressed anger at Rushdie for allegedly insulting Islam and referenced Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s 2006 endorsement of the fatwa. Matar, who holds dual citizenship in the United States and Lebanon, appeared to support Hezbollah, designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S., based on photos found in his possession.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Lynch described Matar’s intentions as fulfilling the fatwa and framed the attack as part of a jihad, or holy war. Exhibits showed Matar tracking Rushdie’s movements and publicly available schedules before the stabbing. Defense attorney Nathaniel Barone argued that the government failed to prove Matar’s specific intent or mindset, and Matar declined to testify during the trial.

Rushdie testified, describing the extent of his injuries but said he could not determine Matar’s exact aims. Born in India and later a British citizen, Rushdie won the Booker Prize for his 1981 novel "Midnight’s Children." "The Satanic Verses," published in 1988, sparked widespread protests among many Muslims, who viewed parts of the book as blasphemous. The fatwa led Rushdie to live in hiding for years until Iran’s government distanced itself from the edict in 1998, though the fatwa was never officially rescinded. Iran’s current Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has indicated it remains in effect, and a bounty has been offered for Rushdie’s killing.

Since the attack, Rushdie published a memoir titled *Knife* in April 2024 recounting the stabbing and its aftermath. At a recent book festival, he spoke about overcoming trauma and continuing to write fiction. He rejected symbolic roles assigned to him, emphasizing his identity as a working writer.

The case marks a notable instance of federal terrorism charges tied to an attack rooted in longstanding religious and political conflict surrounding freedom of expression and blasphemy. Authorities continue to examine the influence of extremist ideologies in motivating such acts of violence.