In 2022, Salman Rushdie was attacked while preparing to speak in New York when Hadi Matar rushed the stage and stabbed him multiple times. In a memoir, Rushdie recounted the brutal assault, which left him blind in one eye and with permanent injuries to his hand. As the trial for Matar begins, Rushdie is set to testify. Matar, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges of attempted murder and assault, faces a trial expected to last up to a week and a half, with jury selection already underway.
The incident was highly publicised and witnessed by many, with video evidence and approximately 15 witnesses anticipated to be presented in court. Matar’s lawyer emphasized the importance of due process, defending his client’s decision not to accept a plea deal. Federal authorities allege Matar was motivated by a fatwa issued in 1989 that called for Rushdie’s death due to the publication of The Satanic Verses. Jurors will not likely hear about the fatwa during the trial, focusing instead on the assault itself.
Matar has remained in custody since the attack, which also injured moderator Henry Reese. Despite efforts to relocate the trial due to pretrial publicity and potential bias, these were unsuccessful, with prospective jurors indicating prior knowledge of Rushdie’s situation. Matar holds dual citizenship in Lebanon and the US, while Rushdie is an Indian-born writer and US citizen.