“Infamous author attack case goes to trial with high stakes”
The high-stakes trial of the assailant accused of stabbing author Salman Rushdie multiple times at an event in upstate New York two years ago is scheduled to begin on Tuesday after being delayed twice. The proceedings will commence with jury selection at 9:30 a.m. at the Chautauqua County Courthouse.
Prosecutors have stated that Rushdie, known for his book “The Satanic Verses,” will testify against the defendant, Hadi Matar, 26, during the trial. Matar, a resident of New Jersey, allegedly attacked Rushdie with a knife at a literary seminar in August 2022, causing significant injuries. The moderator of the event, Henry Reese, was also injured during the incident.
Matar is facing charges of attempted murder and assault in connection with the attack. He has expressed disdain for Rushdie in a jailhouse interview, citing the author’s controversial writings that were perceived as offensive to Islam.
Rushdie, who was left partially blind and with nerve and liver damage from the attack, had been a target of violence in the past due to his writings. The upcoming trial is anticipated to last about a month, with Rushdie expected to testify at some point.
In his book “Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder,” published in 2023, Rushdie reflects on the traumatic event and his gratitude for surviving the attack.
“There’s a condition called PTSD, you see,” he shared with The New Yorker during his initial post-incident interview. “I’ve been struggling tremendously with writing. When I try to sit down and write, it’s like hitting a wall. The words that come out are either empty or nonsensical, things that I end up erasing the next day.”
