Renowned author Salman Rushdie's harrowing testimony has shed new light on the brutal attack that left him with life-altering injuries four years ago. On Thursday, 23 July 2026, he appeared in a US federal courtroom to give evidence against Hadi Matar, the individual convicted of stabbing him in 2022.
The 79-year-old writer vividly recounted the initial moments of the assault, describing it as a punch beneath his chin, followed by the realisation that he was bleeding from his neck. He recalled lying on the stage at an amphitheatre, surrounded by what he termed an “enormous and expansive lake of blood.” The attack resulted in extensive damage, including the loss of sight in one eye, liver damage, temporary paralysis of one hand, and a period on a ventilator.
The assault took place at a cultural institution where Rushdie was due to speak about threats to writers and artists. Federal prosecutors argue that Matar's actions were directly inspired by Iran's 1989 fatwa against Rushdie, which followed the publication of his novel The Satanic Verses. This book, containing a dream sequence about Islam's prophet Muhammad, was deemed blasphemous by some Muslims and led to years of hiding for Rushdie.
Matar, 28, has been serving a 25-year state prison sentence for attempted murder related to the same incident. If convicted of federal charges, including engaging in an act of transnational terrorism, he could face a potential life sentence. However, his defence team argues that prosecutors lack sufficient evidence to prove Matar's intent or mindset at the time of the attack.
Rushdie's testimony marked his second appearance regarding the assault, following previous statements during Matar's state-level trial and in various media interviews. In response to questions about potential repercussions from his book, Rushdie firmly stated, "I don't believe the book is on trial here," before his comment was later struck from the court record by the judge.