AssetID: 54504996
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Rushdie Stabbing Trial Begins as Prosecutors Detail Brutal On-Stage Attack
Caption: Rushdie Stabbing Trial Begins as Prosecutors Detail Brutal On-Stage Attack. Author Salman Rushdie was so shocked by the on-stage attack in 2022 that he didn't try to fight back, prosecutors told the court. The 77-year-old writer was moments away from giving a lecture in New York when a masked man stormed the stage and attacked him. The attack left Rushdie with life-altering injuries, including blindness in one eye, severe wounds to his body, and a long road to recovery. Hadi Matar, 27, is on trial for attempted murder and assault. He pleaded not guilty and shouted “Free Palestine” as he entered the courtroom. District attorney Jason Schmidt said Matar "plunged the knife into Mr. Rushdie over and over again" as he targeted his head, throat, and abdomen. Henry Reese, who was seated beside Rushdie, was also attacked. The courtroom heard that both men were so stunned they remained in their seats at first. The author is likely to take the stand during the trial, which is set to last around 10 days. Rushdie had been a target since his book The Satanic Verses was declared blasphemous by Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini, who issued a fatwa calling for his death. The proceedings unfold as the 36th anniversary of the infamous fatwa approaches on 14 February. The court will review video evidence showing the moment onlookers tackled Matar and held him down until police arrived. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Current Affairs & Politics,Salman Rushdie,Trial,Begins,Prosecutors,Detail,Brutal,Attack,On-Stage,Court,New York,Masked,Man,Attacked,Author,Hadi Matar,Iran,Henry Reese,Jason Schmidt,Target
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