The trial of Hadi Matar, the man charged with attempted murder and assault in the stabbing of author Salman Rushdie in 2022, began Monday in a Mayville, N.Y., court. (Adrian Kraus/AP Photo)
The trial of Hadi Matar, accused of attempting to kill renowned author Salman Rushdie, began with shocking revelations. Prosecutors described how Rushdie, stunned by the sudden attack, did not react immediately.
The 77-year-old writer is expected to testify in the trial, marking his first face-to-face encounter with Matar since the violent incident. The attack, which occurred in August 2022, left Rushdie blind in one eye and severely injured.
Swift and Brutal Attack
Rushdie was seated on stage at the Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater, preparing to speak on protecting writers. In his opening statement, District Attorney Jason Schmidt described the attack as swift and brutal.
Matar allegedly ran up the stage, covered 30 feet in seconds, and repeatedly stabbed Rushdie. Schmidt detailed the assault, saying Matar forcefully struck Rushdie's head, throat, abdomen, thigh, and hand. Both Rushdie and fellow speaker Henry Reese were so shocked they initially did not react.
"It was so fast that even the victim himself couldn’t process what was happening," Schmidt told jurors.
Rushdie eventually managed to escape, but Matar pursued him before being subdued by the crowd. Reese, a co-founder of City of Asylum, suffered a gash above his eye.
“This was no mistake,” Schmidt emphasized. “Matar intentionally attacked Rushdie without provocation.”
Salman Rushdie Attack Trial - Witnesses Testify
During the first day of testimony, Jordan Steves, a former Chautauqua Institution official, recalled running toward the stage when he saw a man violently swinging his arms at Rushdie. He identified Matar as the attacker.
Another witness, Deborah Moore Kushmaul, recounted how she received the attack weapon from a reverend and immediately handed it over to law enforcement.
Meanwhile, Matar, dressed in a blue shirt, observed the proceedings, occasionally taking notes and speaking with his legal team. The 27-year-old from Fairview, N.J., has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and assault.
Rushdie poses for a portrait to promote his book Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder, at the Deutsches Theater in Berlin on May 16, 2024.(AP Photo)
Rushdie’s Fear and Recovery
Rushdie, an acclaimed British-American author of Indian descent, chronicled his near-fatal experience in his memoir Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder, published last year.
His fear for his life dates back to 1989 when his novel The Satanic Verses was condemned as blasphemous by some Muslims. Iran’s then-Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, issued a fatwa calling for his assassination.
For years, Rushdie lived in hiding. However, he had been moving freely in recent decades, believing the threat had diminished. The trial is unfolding as the 36th anniversary of the fatwa approaches on February 14.
Defence Challenges the Prosecution
Matar’s defence team faced a setback as lead attorney Nathaniel Barone was hospitalized. His colleague, Lynn Schaffer, delivered the opening statement instead.
Schaffer argued that the prosecution must prove more than just “something bad happened.” She urged jurors to focus on evidence rather than preconceived notions, noting that many admitted they had prior knowledge of the case.
Matar, seen being led out of the Chautauqua County court after the first day of jury selection on Feb. 4, has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and assault.(AP Photo)
Possible Terrorism Links
Federal authorities have separately charged Matar with terrorism-related offenses. They allege he was motivated by a militant group’s endorsement of the fatwa against Rushdie.
A separate federal trial will be held in Buffalo, where Matar faces charges of providing material support to terrorists and attempting to commit terrorism across national borders.
Rushdie remains one of the world’s most celebrated authors, known for works like Midnight’s Children and Victory City. The trial is expected to last two weeks, with new revelations unfolding in the coming days.
