Salman Rushdie attacker convicted of terror offences

July 29, 2026

Hadi Matar, a US man already imprisoned for 25 years for attempting to murder author Sir Salman Rushdie, has been convicted on additional federal terrorism charges in a New York court. The jury found that Matar provided material support to Hezbollah and engaged in transnational terrorism, motivated by a 1989 Iranian fatwa calling for Rushdie's death and a 2006 Hezbollah speech. During the trial, Rushdie testified about being stabbed 15 times in the 2022 attack, which left him partially blinded and resulted in severe injuries.

Who is affected

Sir Salman Rushdie (the victim who suffered stab wounds and partial blindness)
Hadi Matar (the attacker now convicted of terrorism charges)
Hezbollah (designated terrorist organization that Matar was convicted of supporting)
The firefighter who provided life-saving medical care to Rushdie

What action is being taken

Hadi Matar is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence for attempted murder from his 2025 state court conviction
Matar faces potential additional life imprisonment following his federal terrorism conviction

Why it matters

This case demonstrates how decades-old religious edicts can still motivate violent attacks and establishes legal precedent connecting individual acts of violence to terrorist organizations. The conviction on federal terrorism charges beyond the state attempted murder conviction shows the government's commitment to prosecuting such attacks under anti-terrorism laws. The case also highlights ongoing threats faced by artists and writers whose work generates religious or political controversy, particularly the lasting impact of the 1989 fatwa against Rushdie.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC