Salman Rushdie Testifies in Terrorism Trial of Hadi Matar

Author Testifies in Federal Terrorism Trial

He has pleaded not guilty to the new federal charges, which include engaging in an act of transnational terrorism.

The 2022 Attack

Rushdie was scheduled to speak about threats to writers and artists when Matar approached him on stage. The author described the reality of the assault, stating, I was on the stage, lying down, with an enormous pool of blood all around me.

During his testimony, Rushdie removed his glasses to show the jury his sightless right eye. He noted that the wounds were dispersed across his body, with the knife coming within a millimeter of his brain.

Alleged Motivations and Legal Arguments

Federal prosecutors contend that Matar was motivated by a 1989 fatwa issued by Iran’s late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which called for Rushdie’s death following the publication of his novel, The Satanic Verses. The government argues that Matar’s actions were intended to carry out this religious edict. According to prosecutors, evidence recovered from Matar’s New Jersey apartment—including photos and materials—demonstrates his support for Hezbollah, an organization designated by the U.S. government as a terrorist entity.

Defense lawyer Nathaniel Barone has argued that the prosecution lacks hard evidence regarding the defendant’s specific mindset and intent at the time of the attack. During cross-examination, Barone asked if Rushdie believed the defendant had ties to terrorism. The author responded, I had no knowledge, but I had my suspicions. When questioned about whether he had anticipated blowback from his book, Rushdie stated, Probably, but I don’t believe the book to be on trial here. I believe someone else is on trial.

Courtroom Conduct

Throughout the proceedings, Matar remained largely detached, looking down at the defense table or speaking with his lawyer. According to PBS, the defendant only looked toward the author as Rushdie was exiting the courtroom. Rushdie, meanwhile, appeared composed and only glanced at Matar fleetingly during his time on the stand.

The trial continues to examine the connection between the 2022 stabbing and the long-standing fatwa, which had driven Rushdie into hiding for years after the 1988 publication of The Satanic Verses. Rushdie noted that for more than two decades, he had lived a public life without incident until the ambush four years ago.

Case Background and Context

The following table summarizes the key legal status and circumstances of the case based on verified reports:

Fact	Details
Defendant	Hadi Matar, 28
State Status	Convicted of attempted murder; serving 25-year sentence
Federal Status	Trial for transnational terrorism; pleaded not guilty
Primary Alleged Motive	1989 fatwa issued by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini

The proceedings remain focused on the federal government’s assertion that Matar acted as part of a broader ideological commitment to terrorism, a claim the defense maintains is not supported by sufficient evidence regarding the defendant’s internal state.