Episode Details

Hadi Matar, the man who stabbed Salman Rushdie in 2022, has been found guilty on federal terrorism charges — a verdict that closes a decades-long threat rooted in Iran’s 1989 fatwa calling for Rushdie’s death. The jury in Buffalo convicted him on all counts, including transnational terrorism, after prosecutors presented damning evidence from messaging apps showing his obsession with the fatwa and rage over Rushdie’s survival. Already serving a 25-year sentence on state charges, Matar now faces a possible life term. His defense argued the government failed to prove his intent, while Rushdie testified about the brutal attack. Matar, a 28-year-old U.S. citizen with Lebanese ties, reportedly supported Hezbollah and meticulously planned the assault — tracking Rushdie’s schedule and identifying the perfect moment to strike during a speaking event in western New York. The attack left Rushdie critically injured, but he was saved by bystanders and fellow speakers who rushed to his aid. His federal sentencing is set for November 3rd.

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