Sir Salman Rushdie was reportedly so taken aback that he did not attempt to defend himself when a masked assailant stabbed him on stage, according to court testimony. The 77-year-old author was attacked just moments before he was set to deliver a lecture on the safety of writers in New York in August 2022. The incident left him with serious injuries, including blindness in one eye.
Hadi Matar, 27, is currently on trial for attempted murder and assault. He has pleaded not guilty and shouted “Free Palestine” as he was escorted into Chautauqua County court in Mayville, New York, on Monday. During the opening statements, district attorney Jason Schmidt described Matar’s sudden assault, stating that he rushed up a small staircase and onto the stage as the event commenced.
Both Sir Salman and fellow speaker Henry Reese, who was also injured, were so shocked by the attack that they initially remained seated, the court heard. Mr. Schmidt recounted, “Without hesitation, this man holding his knife forcefully and efficiently plunged the knife into Mr. Rushdie repeatedly.” He added that Matar was “stabbing, swinging, slicing into Mr. Rushdie’s head, his throat, his abdomen, his thigh.” The prosecutor noted that the attack unfolded so quickly that even the victims did not immediately comprehend what was happening.
It is anticipated that Sir Salman will testify during the trial, which is expected to last around 10 days. The Indian-born British-American author has previously recounted the attack and his lengthy recovery in his 2024 memoir, “Knife: Meditations After An Attempted Murder.” Sir Salman has expressed concerns for his safety since the release of his 1989 novel “The Satanic Verses,” which was deemed blasphemous by many Muslims. This controversy led to Iran’s Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issuing a fatwa calling for his death, forcing Sir Salman into hiding for years. He has been able to travel freely for the past 25 years after Iran announced it would not enforce the decree.
As the trial unfolds, coinciding with the 36th anniversary of the fatwa on February 14, jurors will be shown videos and photographs of the attack, which concluded when bystanders intervened and restrained Matar until law enforcement arrived. The specifics of Matar’s defense remain unclear.
