Author Salman Rushdie faced Hadi Matar, the man accused of attacking him, in a New York courtroom. Rushdie, known for his calm demeanor and dry humor, spoke about the 2022 attack. He wore a dark suit and a white shirt. His glasses had a blacked-out lens to cover his injured eye.
The Attack
Rushdie described the attack at the Chautauqua Institution. He was on stage, ready to give a talk about protecting writers. “I saw this person rushing at me,” Rushdie said. He thought he was being punched at first. Then he saw a lot of blood. Matar stabbed him many times.
Rushdie’s wife, poet Rachel Eliza Griffiths, was in the courtroom. She cried as he talked about the attack. Matar, wearing a blue shirt, sometimes looked at Rushdie and wrote on a yellow pad.
Difficult Memories
Rushdie shared details about his injuries. He was stabbed about 15 times. The attack injured his head, neck, torso, and left hand. He lost sight in his right eye and had damage to his liver and intestines. “There’s no vision in the eye at all,” Rushdie said, showing the jury his injuries.
The Charges
Matar is charged with attempted murder and assault. He pleaded not guilty. His lawyers say they will argue that he did not intend to kill Rushdie. Matar could go to prison for 25 years if he is found guilty. He also faces other charges in a federal court.
“I Thought I Was Dying”
Rushdie said he thought he was going to die during the attack. He described his attacker’s eyes as dark and scary. The judge told Rushdie he could not say that Matar looked “ferocious.” Rushdie then said, “He struck me many times. At some point, I thought I was dying.”
Cross-Examination
One of Matar’s lawyers, Lynn Schaffer, asked Rushdie how he knew he was stabbed 15 times. “I wasn’t counting,” Rushdie said. “I saw them on my body afterward.” Schaffer also asked Rushdie about his writing and his appearances in movies. Rushdie said his writing was his most important work. He then left the courtroom, walking past Matar.
