Salman Rushdie’s Attacker Sentenced to 25 Years, Renewing Discussion of Free Speech

Chautauqua, New York, USA: Hadi Matar, 27, received a 25-year prison term for stabbing and partially blinding celebrated novelist Salman Rushdie during a 2022 literary event. The attack sparked renewed concern for free speech, as Rushdie has lived under an Iranian fatwa since the late 1980s for his novel “The Satanic Verses.” The author survived but lost vision in his right eye and sustained multiple injuries. Authorities say the high-profile verdict underscores the judicial system’s stance against violent acts that threaten open discourse.