Hadi Matar, the man who stabbed award-winning author Salman Rushdie and blinded him in one eye, was convicted of attempted murder and assault and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Matar (27) stabbed Rushdie (77) dozens of times during a lecture. At the beginning of the trial, Matar claimed freedom of expression rights 'because Rushdie is a hypocrite.' Rushdie is known among other works for his book 'The Satanic Verses.'