A man who attacked writer Salman Rushdie in 2022 was found guilty of attempted murder by a US jury on Friday.
The trial of Hadi Matar, a 27-year-old American of Lebanese origin, began two weeks ago. Matar, who pleaded not guilty, faces up to 32 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for 23 April.
Rushdie was stabbed on 12 August 2022 while on stage in Chautauqua, New York, just before giving a lecture. Matar stabbed him multiple times in the neck, face, and abdomen before being restrained. Rushdie survived but lost sight in one eye as a result of the attack.
The 77-year-old British writer of Indian descent has lived in New York for over 20 years. He has received death threats since the publication of his novel ‘The Satanic Verses’ in 1988.
The then Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini called the book blasphemous and issued a fatwa against Rushdie.
