Rushdie's Testimony Opening Statements Set in Trial of Man Accused of Trying to Kill Author

<br><br>Rushdie's Testimony Opening Statements Set in Trial of Man Accused of Trying to Kill Author<br><br>MAYVILLE, New York - The trial of Hadi Matar, accused of attempting to fatally stab author Salman Rushdie, has reached a critical phase with lawyers set to deliver opening statements on Monday.<br><br>The Fateful Attack<br><br>In August 2022, Rushdie, then 77 years old, was about to begin speaking at the Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater when Matar, then 24 years old, attacked him. The assault left Rushdie partially blind and with permanent damage to one hand, requiring more than a dozen stitches.<br><br>The Trial Proceedings<br><br>Matar, now 27 years old from Fairview, New Jersey, has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and assault. A jury was selected last week, and Matar attended the proceedings, taking notes and consulting with his attorneys. The trial is expected to last around seven to ten days. Jurors will be shown video and photographs from the day of the attack, which ended when onlookers restrained Matar until police arrived.<br><br>The Background and Investigation<br><br>Matar told investigators he traveled by bus to Chautauqua, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) south of Buffalo, where he allegedly slept in the grounds of the arts and academic retreat the night before the attack. His attorney has not yet indicated a defense strategy. Matar's travel itinerary will likely play a significant role in the trial.<br><br>Federal Charges<br><br>In a separate indictment, federal authorities allege that Matar was motivated by a terrorist organization's endorsement of a fatwa calling for Rushdie's death. A later trial on these federal charges - terrorism transcending national boundaries, providing material support to terrorists, and attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization - will be scheduled in US District Court in Buffalo.<br><br>Rushdie's Experience and Recovery<br><br>Rushdie spent years in hiding after the late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued the fatwa in 1989 over Rushdie's novel, The Satanic Verses, which some Muslims consider blasphemous. In his memoir, Knife Meditations After an Attempted Murder, released last year, Rushdie detailed the attack and his long, painful recovery.<br><br>This trial marks a significant moment for all parties involved, particularly Rushdie, who has suffered greatly at Matar's hands.