Episode Details

Salman Rushdie took the stand in his own defense during the federal terrorism trial of Hadi Matar, the 28-year-old accused of stabbing him last year in a brutal attack that left him blind in one eye and injured his liver. Testifying calmly for over an hour, Rushdie recounted the horrifying moment he realized he was stabbed—not just punched—and found himself bleeding out on stage. While he admitted having suspicions about Matar’s motives, he had no direct proof of terrorism ties. Prosecutors countered with evidence showing Matar researched Rushdie since 2020, wrote notes about killing him, and possessed Hezbollah-linked materials. Matar, who avoided eye contact, pleaded not guilty. Iran denied involvement but accused Rushdie of provoking the attack through anti-Islam writings. Now a U.S. citizen and Booker Prize winner, Rushdie’s testimony marked his first courtroom recounting of the assault, as the trial continues with potential life sentence stakes looming.

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