Salman Rushdie Testifies at Stabbing Trial of Accused Attacker

Salman Rushdie testified Thursday in Buffalo federal court at the terrorism trial of Hadi Matar, recounting the 2022 amphitheater ambush that blinded him in his right eye and nearly killed him, according to court proceedings reported by the Associated Press. Prosecutors stated that Matar acted on an Iranian leader’s 1989 fatwa calling for the author’s death.

Rushdie Recalls the Chautauqua Ambush

Testifying before a federal jury, Rushdie described feeling what he initially thought was a punch under his chin before noticing blood coming from his neck. According to his testimony, he soon lay on the amphitheater stage surrounded by an expansive lake of blood. The 79-year-old author removed his glasses during the proceeding to show his sightless right eye. The attack at the Chautauqua Institution left him with a damaged liver, a temporarily paralyzed left hand, and brief reliance on a ventilator. “The knife was a millimeter from my brain,” Rushdie told the court, outlining 15 slash wounds inflicted from behind by an attacker who climbed the stage.

Federal Terrorism Charges and Defense Strategy

Matar, 28, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges including engaging in an act of transnational terrorism, which carries a potential life sentence. He is already serving a 25-year state prison sentence following a prior conviction for attempted murder related to the same event. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Lynch stated in his opening arguments that Matar researched Rushdie starting in 2020 and wrote to himself that “We need to kill him ASAP,” viewing the attack as part of a jihad influenced by the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. Defense lawyer Nathaniel Barone argued that the prosecution lacks hard evidence regarding Matar’s mindset and intent on the day of the attack, noting that the government is asking jurors to connect dots without direct proof of his motivation.

Cross-Examination and Historical Context

During cross-examination, Barone questioned Rushdie about whether he anticipated blowback from his 1988 novel The Satanic Verses, which prompted the 1989 fatwa issued by the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. “Probably, but I don’t believe the book to be on trial here. I believe someone else is on trial,” Rushdie replied, a statement the judge later struck from the transcript. Rushdie testified that for two decades or more, he led a public life without trouble after the Iranian government distanced itself from the order in 1998, though the fatwa was never officially repealed. Barone also questioned witnesses regarding the security presence at the August 12, 2022, event, pointing out that only a single state trooper and a sheriff’s deputy were assigned to provide protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What charges does Hadi Matar face in federal court?

Matar faces federal charges including engaging in an act of transnational terrorism, which carries a potential life sentence, in addition to a 25-year state prison sentence he is already serving for attempted murder.

What injuries did Salman Rushdie sustain in the 2022 attack?

Rushdie suffered 15 slash wounds that blinded him in his right eye, damaged his liver, paralyzed his left hand for a time, and required a brief stay on a ventilator.

What triggered the historical threats against Salman Rushdie?

The threats stem from a 1989 religious edict, or fatwa, issued by Iran’s late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini calling for Rushdie’s death over his novel The Satanic Verses.