Two years after the attack: Rushdie trial begins

Two and a half years after the knife attack on Salman Rushdie, the first trial against 27-year-old Hadi Matar, who is charged with attempted murder and assault, is beginning. Afterwards, another trial for terrorist crimes awaits.

» Published:

Two years after the attack: Rushdie trial begins
Photo: Ebrahim Noroozi/AP/TT

Share this article

The Assassination Attempt

In "Knife – Thoughts on an Assassination Attempt", Salman Rushdie writes autobiographically about the assassination attempt that took place in connection with a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution in the state of New York in August 2022. Rushdie was stabbed, among other things, in the stomach, chest, and face in front of hundreds of witnesses in the audience. For a time, he hovered between life and death, lost his sight in his right eye, and suffered permanent damage to his left hand.

The Accused

The accused, Hadi Matar, an American citizen from New Jersey, was overpowered and arrested at the crime scene. In an interview from prison, he stated that he disliked Rushdie and simultaneously praised Iran's late supreme leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, who issued a fatwa against the author in 1989.

Two Trials

Hadi Matar now faces two separate trials. One concerns attempted murder and assault and is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, February 4, in Chautauqua County Court in the state of New York, where the jury will be selected. Salman Rushdie himself will be one of the first to be heard.

The attack was filmed, and the jury will be shown the footage and hear testimony from around 15 people during the trial, which is expected to last several weeks.

The second trial will be held in federal court in Buffalo and concerns terrorist crimes. According to the indictment, Hadi Matar attempted to carry out the death sentence that Khomeini issued against Rushdie in 1989. He is also suspected of supporting the Iran-backed Shia militia, Hezbollah.

Postponed Process

The trial in Chautauqua County Court has been postponed twice: first, so that the defense could read Rushdie's autobiography, "Knife – Thoughts on an Assassination Attempt", which serves as evidence in the case, and later because the defense wanted to move the trial to another location. According to the defense, it is impossible to find an impartial jury in Chautauqua County.

Born in 1947 in Bombay, India, into a Muslim family.

Grew up in the UK, educated in Cambridge. Now resides in the USA.

Worked in advertising before achieving literary breakthrough with "Midnight's Children" in 1980. The book received several literary awards, including the Booker Prize. Other titles include "The Satanic Verses" (1989), "The Ground Beneath Her Feet" (2009), "Joseph Anton" (2012), "Quichotte" (2020), and "Victory City" (2023).

After "The Satanic Verses", Rushdie was forced to live with constant protection for nine years. The book was burned and banned in several countries.

Rushdie's latest work, "Knife – Thoughts on an Assassination Attempt", was published in April 2024.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Ellerströms Wins Örnen and Kråkan Poetry Prize

Ellerströms Wins Örnen and Kråkan Poetry Prize

Record Number of Songs Submitted to Melodifestivalen 2026

Record Number of Songs Submitted to Melodifestivalen 2026

Netherlands Joins Eurovision Boycott Threat Over Israel's Participation

Netherlands Joins Eurovision Boycott Threat Over Israel's Participation

SVT's The Game: Swedish Celebrities Face Intense Drama in New Show

SVT's The Game: Swedish Celebrities Face Intense Drama in New Show

Swedish Actor Per Mattsson Passes Away at 77

Swedish Actor Per Mattsson Passes Away at 77

Suede Announces Two Sweden Concerts Next Year

Suede Announces Two Sweden Concerts Next Year

Munich Philharmonic Concert in Belgium Canceled Over Conductor's Views

Munich Philharmonic Concert in Belgium Canceled Over Conductor's Views

TV4 Play Streams Malin Åkerman's Hit Series The Hunting Wives

TV4 Play Streams Malin Åkerman's Hit Series The Hunting Wives

Karin Wiklund and Annica Styrke Win Birgit Cullberg Scholarship

Karin Wiklund and Annica Styrke Win Birgit Cullberg Scholarship

Dexter Returns as a Taxi Driver in New York in New Series

Dexter Returns as a Taxi Driver in New York in New Series

Sweden's Museums See 2% Rise in Summer Visitors

Sweden's Museums See 2% Rise in Summer Visitors

Former Miss Dirt Reveals Her Real Name as Felicia

Former Miss Dirt Reveals Her Real Name as Felicia

Doktor Glas Novel Transformed into Modern Swedish Thriller Film

Doktor Glas Novel Transformed into Modern Swedish Thriller Film

Takida's Robert Pettersson Launches Solo Career with Secret Album

Takida's Robert Pettersson Launches Solo Career with Secret Album

Big Little Lies Season 3 Confirmed with New Writer

Big Little Lies Season 3 Confirmed with New Writer

SD Politician Seeks to Cancel Play About Palestinian Activist in Malmö

SD Politician Seeks to Cancel Play About Palestinian Activist in Malmö

Ireland Threatens Eurovision Boycott Over Israel's Participation

Ireland Threatens Eurovision Boycott Over Israel's Participation

Radio Listening Hits Record Low as Podcasts and Streaming Rise

Radio Listening Hits Record Low as Podcasts and Streaming Rise

Bad Bunny Skips USA Tour Over Immigration Raid Concerns

Bad Bunny Skips USA Tour Over Immigration Raid Concerns

Sverker Olofsson Criticizes Celebrity Focus in SVT's "Det sitter i väggarna"

Sverker Olofsson Criticizes Celebrity Focus in SVT's "Det sitter i väggarna"