The trial of Hadi Matar, the man accused of attempting to murder renowned British-Indian author Sir Salman Rushdie, began on Monday in Mayville, New York. The attack, which occurred in August 2022, left Rushdie blind in one eye and with significant injuries, sparking global outrage.
The Attack and Aftermath
Sir Salman, 77, was about to deliver a lecture at the historic Chautauqua Institution when a man, allegedly Matar, ran onto the stage and stabbed him multiple times. The author suffered severe injuries, including neck and abdominal wounds, liver damage, and the loss of vision in one eye. An interviewer accompanying him, Henry Reese, also sustained minor injuries.
The attack was captured on video, and several attendees rushed to intervene. A doctor in the audience provided first aid before Rushdie was airlifted to a hospital in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he underwent emergency surgery. Matar was arrested at the scene.
Motive and Trial Proceedings
Matar, a 27-year-old from Fairview, New Jersey, pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and assault. He remains in custody and faces a potential 32-year prison sentence if convicted. Prosecutors allege that his actions were influenced by a fatwa issued by Iran’s former supreme leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, in 1989, calling for Rushdie’s execution over his novel The Satanic Verses.
In an interview with the New York Post, Matar praised Khomeini but did not confirm whether the fatwa directly motivated his attack. He admitted to reading only a few pages of The Satanic Verses and claimed he disliked Rushdie for “attacking Islam.”
The trial, expected to be closely followed worldwide, will include testimonies from several witnesses, including Rushdie himself. The jury will hear from those who witnessed the attack and medical experts who treated the author.
Rushdie’s Resilience
Following his recovery, Rushdie wrote Knife, a memoir detailing the attack and his road to healing. While expressing uncertainty about confronting Matar in court, he remarked that his life had improved since the incident, whereas Matar’s had deteriorated.
The case has reignited debates on free speech and religious extremism. Iran has denied involvement, though some Iranian media praised the attack. The trial’s outcome could have lasting implications for global discussions on artistic expression and security for threatened authors.
