Federal Terrorism Conviction Adds to State Sentence in Rushdie Stabbing

A Buffalo jury convicted Hadi Matar on July 29, 2026, on federal terrorism charges, including attempting to provide material support to Hezbollah, for the 2022 stabbing of Salman Rushdie. Matar already faces a 25-year state sentence for attempted murder. Prosecutors linked the attack to Khomeini's 1989 fatwa (a religious edict). Iran denies involvement. He now faces potential life in federal prison.