Renowned author Salman Rushdie has provided poignant testimony in court regarding the brutal stabbing he endured two years ago, revealing details of a traumatic experience that left him blind in one eye.
Salman Rushdie Describes Life-Altering Attack in Court Testimony
Salman Rushdie Describes Life-Altering Attack in Court Testimony
In chilling testimony, Salman Rushdie recounts his near-fatal stabbing on stage, describing vivid memories of the horrific incident.
Sir Salman Rushdie took the stand at a New York state court, recalling the terrifying moments before and during the violent attack that occurred on August 12, 2022. The attack took place as he prepared to give a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution, where he had been welcomed to speak about the safety of exiled writers in the U.S. The alleged assailant, 27-year-old Hadi Matar, has entered a not guilty plea to charges of assault and attempted murder.
The famous British-Indian author shared that he initially thought he was dying during the attack, describing the brutal assault as a series of relentless stabbings. He felt the first blow hit his jaw, quickly realizing that it was not just a punch, but rather a life-threatening attack as blood soaked his clothes. "At that moment he was hitting me repeatedly, stabbing and slashing," he recounted, emphasizing the speed and brutality of the attack.
Sir Salman endured 15 stab wounds total, affecting his eye, neck, torso, and thigh, and noted that the stab to his eye was particularly excruciating. While on the witness stand, he revealed the melancholy reality of living without vision in his eye. The court witnessed an emotional moment when his wife, Lady Rushdie, cried during his recollection, highlighting the personal toll of the event.
In a world that has been hostile towards him due to his 1988 novel *The Satanic Verses*, which many Muslims consider blasphemous, this brutal assault interrupted a fleeting sense of peace he felt before the attack. He had believed the threats against him had lessened, a belief shattered by the stabbing which left him feeling as if he was "lying in a lake of blood."
Witnesses, including bystanders who assisted in subduing Matar, aid in demonstrating the chaos and immediate response that saved Rushdie's life on that fateful day. Following the attack, he was airlifted to a trauma center where he spent 17 days recovering from his injuries.
As the trial progresses, the courtroom will hear from other key witnesses, including the surgeon who treated Rushdie, and law enforcement officials who responded to the scene, painting a comprehensive picture of the incident and its aftermath.
