Hadi Matar faces charges of attempted murder and assault for an attack in western New York that resulted in the victim losing sight in one eye.
Salman Rushdie, a well-known author, will be testifying at the trial of his attacker, Hadi Matar, who stabbed him multiple times in 2022. The incident took place in Chautauqua County, New York, and Matar is facing charges of second-degree attempted murder and assault with a weapon. The attack on Rushdie was deemed premeditated, and Matar has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The trial, expected to last up to seven weeks, was initially set to begin on Tuesday but has been delayed following a defense request to move the proceedings out of Chautauqua County. The defense argues that a fair trial for Matar is not possible in the county due to the extensive publicity surrounding the case and the absence of a local Arab American community. Nathaniel Barone, Matar’s public defender, stressed the importance of relocating the trial to ensure his client’s right to a fair trial.
Salman Rushdie, who faced threats to his life in the past after the publication of his controversial novel “The Satanic Verses,” is anticipated to testify during the early stages of the prosecution’s case. He is among the approximately 15 witnesses expected to take the stand during the trial. Apart from the charges related to the attack on Rushdie, Matar is also facing federal terrorism charges for allegedly supporting Hezbollah, a militant group in Lebanon backed by Iran. Matar, who moved to the United States from Lebanon as a child, was residing in New Jersey and working at a clothing store at the time of the assault.
Source: The NY Times
