3:52 am - February 12, 2025
In a deeply emotional and harrowing courtroom moment, renowned novelist Salman Rushdie revealed the devastating aftermath of the brutal attack he endured in 2022. On Tuesday, Rushdie appeared before a jury in Mayville, New York, to testify against Hadi Matar, the 26-year-old man accused of attempting to murder him. Dressed in a dark suit, white shirt, and gray tie, Rushdie entered the courtroom with a visible reminder of the ordeal: the right lens of his glasses was blacked out, concealing his blinded eye. The injury was a direct result of the knife attack that pierced through to his optic nerve, leaving him without vision in that eye. As he addressed the jury, Rushdie removed his glasses to show the extent of the damage, a poignant reminder of the violence he survived.
The attack occurred on August 12, 2022, at the Chautauqua Institution, a rural venue in New York where Rushdie was scheduled to give a talk. Matar, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree attempted murder and second-degree assault, sat in the courtroom wearing a baggy light blue shirt, flanked by his defense lawyers. Rushdie described the moment of the attack in vivid detail, recounting how he was rushes from his right side. Initially, he thought he had been punched, but the rapid flow of blood soon made it clear that the violence was far more severe. “He hit me very hard,” Rushdie testified. “I thought he was hitting me with his fist. But very soon afterward, I saw a very large quantity of blood pouring out onto my clothes, and by that time, he was hitting me repeatedly. Stabbing, slashing.” The attack left Rushdie with approximately 15 stab wounds, including injuries to his head, neck, torso, and left hand. His right eye was blinded, and his liver and intestines were damaged, bringing him perilously close to death.
Rushdie’s testimony was both a reflection on the brutality of the attack and a testament to his resilience. As he addressed the jury, he recalled the moments of terror and confusion, describing how he initially struggled to comprehend the extent of the violence. “I was aware of this person rushing at me from my right-hand side,” he said. The attack was not just a physical assault but also a deeply personal one, targeting a man who had spent much of his life advocating for free expression and enduring threats for his work. Rushdie’s 1988 novel, The Satanic Verses, had sparked widespread controversy and led to a fatwa being issued against him, forcing him into hiding for much of the 1990s. Decades later, the attack in New York served as a grim reminder of the ongoing dangers faced by writers and public figures who challenge societal norms.
The courtroom drama also highlighted the emotional toll the attack has taken on Rushdie. At one point, he described his attacker’s appearance, noting that Matar was dressed in dark clothing and wore a COVID face mask. “I was very struck by his eyes, which were dark and seemed very ferocious to me,” Rushdie testified. However, a defense lawyer for Matar objected to the characterization of the attacker’s eyes as “ferocious,” and the judge struck the word from the record. Rushdie later reframed his description, explaining that his perception of the attacker’s ferocity stemmed from the violent nature of the assault. “He struck me a number of times, another half a dozen times,” Rushdie said. “At some point, I thought I was dying. That was my immediate thought.” The testimony painted a chilling picture of the attack’s intensity and its lasting impact on Rushdie’s life.
The trial also brought attention to the second victim of the attack, Henry Reese, the co-founder of City of Asylum, a nonprofit organization that supports exiled writers. Reese, who was moderating the event with Rushdie, was also injured in the attack and is expected to testify in the case. The assault charge against Matar includes the injuries Reese sustained, adding another layer to the legal proceedings. The attack on both Rushdie and Reese has resonated deeply within the literary community, raising concerns about the safety of writers and public figures who are often targeted for their ideas.
As the trial continues, Rushdie’s testimony serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring struggle for free expression and the risks that many writers and thinkers face. Despite the gravity of the attack and its physical and emotional consequences, Rushdie’s presence in the courtroom demonstrated his unwavering resolve. His decision to confront his attacker and share his story publicly underscores his commitment to standing up for his rights and the rights of others to express themselves without fear of violence. The case of Salman Rushdie and Hadi Matar is not just a legal battle but a symbolic one, highlighting the ongoing tensions between free speech and those who seek to silence it through violence. As the world watches, the trial serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of creative freedom and the courage required to defend it.