The man who violently attacked celebrated author Salman Rushdie during a public appearance in 2022 has been handed a 25-year prison sentence, prosecutors in New York announcedFriday. The assault left the 77-year-old novelist partially blind and severely injured a second individual.

Hadi Matar, 27, of Fairview, New Jersey, was convicted in Chautauqua County Court earlier this year for launching the brutal knife attack at the Chautauqua Institution, where Rushdie was scheduled to speak about protecting writers from violence. Matar was found guilty of second-degree attempted murder, the most serious charge he faced, carrying the maximum sentence of 25 years.

A disturbing video shown in court depicted Matar storming the stage and stabbing Rushdie multiple times just as the event was starting. The author sustained deep wounds to his head, neck, torso, and hand—injuries that permanently blinded his right eye and required multiple surgeries.

District Attorney Jason Schmidt described the lingering trauma Rushdie has endured since the attack, emphasizing that the assault derailed the author’s efforts to re-engage with public life after years of living in hiding due to longstanding threats tied to his 1988 novel The Satanic Verses. The book drew condemnation from Iran’s then-supreme leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who issued a fatwa calling for Rushdie’s execution.

Also injured during the onstage attack was Henry Reese, co-founder of City of Asylum, a Pittsburgh-based organization supporting writers at risk. Reese was seated beside Rushdie and suffered stab wounds as well.

In addition to the 25-year sentence for the attempted murder charge, Matar received a concurrent seven-year term for assaulting Reese.

Although Matar declined to testify during his trial, his defense team argued that prosecutors failed to demonstrate that he had the intent to kill necessary for an attempted murder conviction. His attorney, Nathaniel Barone, stated that Matar plans to appeal the verdict, adding, "If he had the chance to do things differently, I believe he would."

The case isn't over for Matar, however. He also faces separate federal terrorism-related charges, including allegations of attempting to kill Rushdie in support of Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group classified by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization.