Salman Rushdie, the author of “The Satanic Verses,” has gone on trial in western New York after being stabbed multiple times by a man wearing a face mask. Hadi Matar, 27, is charged with attempted murder and assault for the attack that left Rushdie blind in one eye.
Prosecutors say that Matar appeared to be “on a mission” when he rushed onstage with a knife, striking Rushdie repeatedly before being restrained by others. The prosecution will present evidence including video footage from surveillance cameras and testimony from witnesses who were present at the scene.
Rushdie, 77, has spent years in hiding due to threats from Islamic extremists after his novel “The Satanic Verses” was published in 1988. He resumed his public life in the US in recent years, despite concerns about his safety.
Matar’s defense team is led by assistant public defender Lynn Schaffer, who will present a case that challenges the prosecution’s evidence and encourages the jury to approach the case with skepticism. The trial is expected to be closely watched, given Rushdie’s high-profile status as a target of extremist groups.
The trial marks another challenge for Matar, who faces federal terrorism-related charges in Buffalo. He has also been accused of offering support to terrorists and providing resources to Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/nyregion/salman-rushdie-stabbing-trial.html