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The man who stabbed and partially blinded author Salman Rushdie on stage at a New York arts institute in 2022 was found guilty on Wednesday of federal terrorism charges stemming from the attack. Hadi Matar, 28, was convicted of attempting to provide material support to Lebanon's Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah, a US-designated terrorist organization, as well as engaging in transnational terrorism and providing material support to terrorists.

A US District Court jury in Buffalo, New York, returned its guilty verdict on all charges after deliberations of just two hours, capping a trial that began last Tuesday, according to a spokesperson for federal prosecutors, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.

Matar is already serving a 25-year prison sentence for attempting to murder Rushdie in the knife attack, an act that left Rushdie partially blind, according to Al Jazeera. The new federal conviction could add a life sentence.

Coverage Comparison

The verdict was reported by Al Jazeera, The Guardian, the Jerusalem Post, and The Hindu. The Jerusalem Post led with the guilty verdict, emphasizing the terrorism charges and Matar's year-long research into the fatwa. Al Jazeera also focused on the guilty verdict, framing the attack as driven by the fatwa and potential ties to Iranian terrorism. The Guardian's coverage centered on Matar's denial of charges and the trial's details, noting the prosecution's argument that Matar was acting in service of Hezbollah. The Hindu, reporting earlier on the state trial, focused on Rushdie's testimony and the charges of attempted murder and assault, noting that Matar had pleaded not guilty.

Key Claims

  • Guilty verdict: Matar was found guilty of federal terrorism charges, including attempting to provide material support to Hezbollah and engaging in transnational terrorism, according to Al Jazeera and the Jerusalem Post. The verdict was returned after two hours of deliberation, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
  • Prior conviction: Matar was previously convicted of attempted murder at the state level and sentenced to 25 years in prison, as reported by Al Jazeera and the Jerusalem Post. The Hindu reported that Matar was charged with attempted murder and assault and had pleaded not guilty.
  • Rushdie's injuries: Rushdie survived the attack but lost the use of one eye and suffered lasting nerve damage, as reported by Al Jazeera and the Jerusalem Post. The Guardian noted that Rushdie lost the use of one eye.
  • Research on fatwa: Evidence presented at his federal trial showed that Matar spent more than a year researching the fatwa before the attack, according to the Jerusalem Post. The Guardian reported that investigators found detailed research on Matar's electronic devices and personal journal, including a note weighing the case for acting swiftly given Rushdie's age.
  • Rushdie's testimony: Rushdie testified during Matar's federal trial, as reported by The Hindu and The Guardian. The Hindu reported that Rushdie took the stand in the state trial, while The Guardian noted he was expected to testify again in the federal trial.
  • Trial location: Matar's federal trial began in Buffalo, New York, about 70 miles from the Chautauqua Institution where the attack occurred, as reported by The Guardian.
  • Matar's denial: Matar denies charges of providing material support to terrorists and committing an act of transnational terrorism, as reported by The Guardian.
  • Iran's denial: Iran denied any involvement in the attack, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Perspectives

Prosecution: The prosecution argued that Matar was inspired by the fatwa issued by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and acted in service of Hezbollah. Evidence presented in court alleged that Matar angrily discussed the fatwa on messaging apps in 2021 and 2022, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Defense: Matar denied the charges, and his defense remained focused on challenging the terrorism allegations, as reported by The Guardian. The Hindu noted that jurors in the state trial were unlikely to hear about the fatwa, according to District Attorney Jason Schmidt, who said discussing motive would be unnecessary given the attack was seen by the live audience.