Salman Rushdie's attacker found guilty
A US court has found Hadi Matar, the man who stabbed writer Salman Rushdie in 2022, guilty of attempted murder after an eight-day trial.
During the trial, Rushdie testified that he initially thought he was punching his attacker, but soon realized he was bleeding profusely, reports NBC News.
"I saw a huge amount of blood pouring onto my clothes," Rushdie is quoted as saying. "He (the attacker) was hitting me repeatedly. Hitting and slashing."
Prosecutors argued that the attack was deliberate, presenting slow-motion video footage to emphasize its targeted nature. Matar's lawyer claimed there was no clear evidence of intent to kill Rushdie.
Matar, a dual US and Lebanese citizen, refused to testify in his own defense and has been held without bail since the attack. He now faces 25 years in prison, with sentencing set for April 23.
The 27-year-old rushed onto the stage of the Chautauqua Institution in western New York in 2022, attacking Rushdie (77) with a knife, causing multiple injuries, including to his neck, stomach, chest, hand and right eye.
The renowned British-American author of Indian origin has faced death threats since his novel "The Devil's Verses" (1988) was declared blasphemous by the late Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini. Blasphemy refers to an insult that shows contempt, disrespect, or reverence for something considered sacred or inviolable.
