Rushdie details the brutal assault and the lasting impact on his life during the ongoing trial of his alleged attacker.
Salman Rushdie Shares Chilling Testimony About His Stabbing Experience
Salman Rushdie Shares Chilling Testimony About His Stabbing Experience
The celebrated author describes feeling like he was dying after being attacked on stage in 2022.
Sir Salman Rushdie took the stand in a New York state court on Tuesday, recounting the harrowing details of the stabbing he endured two years ago which left him partially blind. During his testimony, the acclaimed British-Indian author described how he felt he was dying following the attack, which was carried out by 27-year-old Hadi Matar, accused of assault and attempted murder. Matar has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The trial unfolds near the Chautauqua Institution, where on August 12, 2022, Rushdie was attacked while preparing to share his thoughts about the U.S. as a refuge for exiled writers. Rushdie's life had long been overshadowed by threats following the publication of his controversial novel, The Satanic Verses, in 1988.
As prosecutors called Rushdie to the stand, he vividly told the jury about the moments leading up to the assailant rushing toward him, dressed in dark clothing and a mask. Initially perceiving it as a punch, he quickly realized he was being stabbed multiple times. Rushdie described feeling 15 painful blows across various parts of his body, including his eye, chest, and neck. He recounted the moment he recognized the severity of his injuries—blood pouring down his clothes—and the harrowing thought that he could be dying.
Having lost vision in his right eye due to the attack, Rushdie emphasized the perpetual grief of his injury as he revealed the extent of his wounds to the court. His wife, Lady Rushdie, was visibly emotional as her husband recounted the terrifying details of the assault.
Rushdie's life has been marked by the threats stemming from the fatwa issued by Iran's leaders over The Satanic Verses, which led him to live in hiding for nearly a decade. Although he had started to feel a sense of security in recent years, the attack shattered that illusion.
As he recollected the aftermath of the vicious attack, Rushdie expressed gratitude to the bystanders who subdued Matar. Despite the trauma's potential to distort memory, he confidently asserted the clarity of his recollections regarding the number of times he was assaulted.
As the proceedings continue, more witnesses are scheduled to testify, including medical professionals and law enforcement officers involved in Rushdie’s case, further illuminating the chilling events surrounding this high-profile trial.
The trial unfolds near the Chautauqua Institution, where on August 12, 2022, Rushdie was attacked while preparing to share his thoughts about the U.S. as a refuge for exiled writers. Rushdie's life had long been overshadowed by threats following the publication of his controversial novel, The Satanic Verses, in 1988.
As prosecutors called Rushdie to the stand, he vividly told the jury about the moments leading up to the assailant rushing toward him, dressed in dark clothing and a mask. Initially perceiving it as a punch, he quickly realized he was being stabbed multiple times. Rushdie described feeling 15 painful blows across various parts of his body, including his eye, chest, and neck. He recounted the moment he recognized the severity of his injuries—blood pouring down his clothes—and the harrowing thought that he could be dying.
Having lost vision in his right eye due to the attack, Rushdie emphasized the perpetual grief of his injury as he revealed the extent of his wounds to the court. His wife, Lady Rushdie, was visibly emotional as her husband recounted the terrifying details of the assault.
Rushdie's life has been marked by the threats stemming from the fatwa issued by Iran's leaders over The Satanic Verses, which led him to live in hiding for nearly a decade. Although he had started to feel a sense of security in recent years, the attack shattered that illusion.
As he recollected the aftermath of the vicious attack, Rushdie expressed gratitude to the bystanders who subdued Matar. Despite the trauma's potential to distort memory, he confidently asserted the clarity of his recollections regarding the number of times he was assaulted.
As the proceedings continue, more witnesses are scheduled to testify, including medical professionals and law enforcement officers involved in Rushdie’s case, further illuminating the chilling events surrounding this high-profile trial.
