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Salman Rushdie provided a vivid recounting on Tuesday of the harrowing event from 2022 when he was attacked on stage in western New York by a masked assailant, who repeatedly stabbed him, resulting in severe injuries.
The renowned author, now 77 years old, spoke to jurors during the second day of the trial of Hadi Matar, 27, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and assault. This marked the first occasion since the attack that Rushdie was in close proximity to Matar, the individual accused of the assault.
“I only saw him at the last minute,” Rushdie recounted. “I was aware of someone in dark clothing and a black mask, and I was struck by his eyes, which appeared dark and intimidating.”
Initially, Rushdie believed he was being hit with a fist rather than a knife.
“But then I saw a large amount of blood soaking my clothes,” he continued. “He was attacking me time and again, hitting and slashing.”
During his testimony, Rushdie detailed how he was repeatedly injured in the chest and torso, suffering stabbings as he attempted to escape.
“I was gravely wounded. I couldn’t keep standing and fell to the ground,” he stated.
‘I was dying’
As he lay on the stage, Rushdie described the overwhelming pain and shock he felt, all the while being aware of the large pool of blood surrounding him.
“I thought I was dying; that was my main concern,” he expressed.
His wife, Rachel Eliza Griffiths, became visibly emotional as she listened from the courtroom’s second row.
Rushdie lost sight in one eye due to the assault and underwent months of recovery, aspects he conveyed in a memoir published last year. Additionally, a speaker scheduled to join Rushdie at the event was also injured in the attack.
The jury had heard opening statements on Monday, followed by testimonies from staff members of the Chautauqua Institution, the venue for the attack, located about 120 kilometers south of Buffalo.
Matar has remained in custody since being restrained by attendees following the assault.
Trial Overview
The ongoing trial is projected to last up to two weeks.
District Attorney Jason Schmidt informed jurors that they are unlikely to hear references to the fatwa issued by the late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which called for Rushdie’s death. The fatwa was pronounced in 1989 after the release of Rushdie’s novel The Satanic Verses, which some Muslims deemed offensive due to its portrayal of the prophet Muhammad. Following the announcement, Rushdie spent several years in hiding.
‘Not a case of mistaken identity’
Schmidt stated that understanding Matar’s motivation would not be essential for the state trial, especially since the attack was perpetrated in front of a live audience that had gathered for Rushdie’s lecture on the protection of writers.
“This is not a case of mistaken identity,” Schmidt asserted in his opening remarks. “Mr. Matar is the specific individual who attacked Mr. Rushdie without any provocation.”
Conversely, a public defender representing Matar argued that the case may not be as clear-cut as the prosecution suggested.
“The legal definition of what constitutes a crime is more nuanced than simply stating something terrible occurred,” said Lynn Schaffer. “Although a very serious incident did occur, the prosecution is required to establish more substantial proof.”
In addition, federal authorities have charged Matar in a separate indictment, alleging that his actions were influenced by a terrorist organization’s endorsement of the fatwa in 2006. A subsequent trial on these federal terrorism charges is anticipated to take place in U.S. District Court in Buffalo.
Source
www.cbc.ca