MAYVILLE, N.Y. — In a poignant testimony filled with both humor and stark imagery, renowned author Salman Rushdie recounted the harrowing events of August 2022, when a masked assailant attacked him on stage during an event in western New York. The 77-year-old writer vividly remembered thinking he might be dying, acknowledging that the quick actions of those who subdued his attacker likely saved his life.
Taking the stand on the trial’s second day, Rushdie faced Hadi Matar, the 27-year-old accused of attempted murder and assault, who has entered a plea of not guilty. This marked the first time the author was in the same room as his assailant since the brutal incident. In his 2023 memoir, “Knife,” Rushdie described Matar only as “the A,” referring to him dismissively as an assassin without naming him directly.
While testifying, Rushdie shared how he was initially struck by the belief that his attacker was using a fist. However, as he looked down and saw blood soaking through his clothing, he quickly realized the reality of the situation: he was being stabbed repeatedly with a large knife. Although he was cautious not to identify Matar in court, Rushdie did briefly glimpse the defendant, describing his eyes as dark and menacing in a statement that was later removed from record at the defense’s request.
The day of the attack coincides with a significant date for Rushdie, as it falls just days before the 36th anniversary of the fatwa issued against him by Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The ruling declared Rushdie must be killed, citing supposed blasphemy in his acclaimed novel, “The Satanic Verses.” For years following, Rushdie lived in hiding, an untenable situation for a man known for his sociable demeanor. After Iran indicated it would not enforce the fatwa, he managed to live more freely in recent years, so much so that his appearance at the Chautauqua Institution was announced ahead of time.
Tight security surrounded the courthouse during the trial, with law enforcement present both outside and on rooftops. Matar, who holds dual citizenship from Lebanon and the United States, comes from a family with roots in a Hezbollah-dominated region of southern Lebanon. In a jailhouse interview, he refrained from discussing the specifics of “The Satanic Verses,” instead referring to Rushdie as someone who had “attacked Islam.” On the first day of the trial, Matar made headlines with comments such as “Free Palestine” as he entered the courtroom, and on the subsequent day, he chanted phrases expressing support for Palestinian liberation.
The duration of Rushdie’s trial is expected to be around two weeks. In addition to state charges, federal authorities have indicated they plan to pursue a separate case against Matar based on claims that he acted under the influence of a terrorist group that endorsed the fatwa in 2006.
During his testimony, Rushdie, dressed in a simple dark suit, spoke softly as he recounted the moment he realized he was laying in what he described as a “lake” of blood. He revealed his now-blinded right eye, typically concealed behind dark glasses, and discussed the painful surgery he underwent to seal it shut, even making light of the experience by humorously advising jurors against such a procedure.
When cross-examined by Matar’s public defender, who questioned the accuracy of Rushdie’s recollections, he acknowledged the chaotic nature of the incident made it difficult to specify how many times he was stabbed, saying, “I wasn’t counting at the time. I was otherwise occupied.” Following the attack, Rushdie spent several weeks in recovery, including a 17-day hospital stay and more than three weeks at a rehabilitation center, where he relearned basic skills.
Reflecting on his health, Rushdie estimated he has regained about 75% to 80% of his former strength and energy. His wife, Rachel Eliza Griffiths, was present through the proceedings, having flown in on short notice after hearing Rushdie’s life was in peril following the attack. Emotional throughout the trial, she often gripped the hand of a friend beside her but smiled warmly at Rushdie as he exited the courtroom after his testimony.
