Salman Rushdie testifies against accused NY stabber Hadi Matar

Salman Rushdie testified in court about the brutal stabbing he endured in August 2022, recalling the harrowing moment when a masked assailant, Hadi Matar, attacked him on stage. During the trial, Rushdie described the attack in graphic detail, stating he initially thought he was being punched before realizing he was being stabbed, which left him blinded in one eye. He expressed intense fear for his life, stating, 'It occurred to me that I was dying,' as he lay in a significant amount of his own blood. Rushdie's wife was visibly emotional during his testimony, which marked the first time he faced Matar since the attack. The trial, where Matar has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and assault, is expected to last up to two weeks, with evidence from the day of the attack anticipated to be presented to the jury. The case has drawn attention due to Rushdie's long history of threats stemming from the publication of his novel 'The Satanic Verses.'