Overview

• Salman Rushdie testified about the August 2022 attack, describing the moments when the masked assailant rushed at him and stabbed him multiple times during a public event in New York.
• The author suffered severe injuries, including the loss of vision in one eye and permanent damage to his hand, after being stabbed at least 15 times.
• The accused, Hadi Matar, has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and assault; he faces over 30 years in prison if convicted.
• Prosecutors have alleged that Matar's actions were influenced by a 1989 fatwa issued by Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini against Rushdie for his novel 'The Satanic Verses.'
• Rushdie has detailed his recovery and reflections on the attack in his 2024 book, 'Knife: Thoughts After an Attempted Murder.'