Upcoming Trial Date Scheduled for Suspect in Salman Rushdie Stabbing, with Author Anticipated as Witness
Trial date set for suspect in Salman Rushdie stabbing; author expected to testify The accused allegedly attacked Rushdie and another speaker during a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution January trial scheduled for the incident in western New York
The trial for Hadi Matar, accused of stabbing author Salman Rushdie and another person onstage, has been set for January as announced by prosecutors. Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt stated that the trial, anticipated to span approximately two weeks, will commence on January 8.
Schmidt mentioned his intention for Rushdie to testify.
"I have already contacted Mr. Rushdie's representatives to inform them about our expectation of the trial date, allowing us to begin making preparations," Schmidt stated.
CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 12: Salman Rushdie, 2019 Booker Prize, shortlisted author, at the Cheltenham Literature Festival 2019 on October 12, 2019 in Cheltenham, England.
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Renowned author Rushdie faced death threats following the publication of his novel "The Satanic Verses" in 1988, which was condemned by numerous Muslims as sacrilegious. The late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini of Iran even issued a fatwa calling for Rushdie's assassination, leading the author to seek refuge under British security for ten years.
Tragically, on August 12, 2022, Rushdie was viciously attacked and suffered severe injuries while preparing to deliver a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York. During the incident, an assailant stormed onto the stage and stabbed both Rushdie and another individual.
Rushdie sustained three stab wounds to his neck and four to his stomach, as well as puncture wounds to his right eye and chest, and a cut on his right thigh. According to Schmidt, Rushdie was left blind in the eye and the attack also impaired the use of one of his hands. Matar, who was 24 at the time, pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree attempted murder and second-degree assault a week after the stabbing, as reported by CNN.
A judge ordered him held without bail.
CNN is trying to reach his lawyers for comment.
In court, a prosecutor mentioned that Matar might be sentenced to a maximum of 25 years in prison for the charge of attempted murder against Rushdie. Additionally, the prosecutor stated that Matar could face up to seven years in prison for the assault charge on the other speaker. The motive behind the incident has not been revealed by the police.
Rushdie has a memoir, "Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder," set to be published next year.
