Defendant in Salman Rushdie stabbing declines to testify in feder

Hadi Matar, the man accused of stabbing author Salman Rushdie in a 2022 attack, declined to testify or present witnesses in his federal terrorism trial on Tuesday. Matar, already convicted on state-level attempted murder charges for the assault, faces additional charges of engaging in an act of transnational terrorism. Closing arguments are scheduled for Wednesday morning, with the case expected to go to the jury soon thereafter.

Rushdie’s Testimony Highlights Brutality of Attack
Rushdie, the acclaimed author of Midnight’s Children and the controversial The Satanic Verses, testified last week about the attack that left him blind in one eye. He was preparing to speak at the Chautauqua Institution, an arts and intellectual retreat, when Matar rushed the stage and stabbed him 15 times in front of a horrified audience. The event, ironically focused on writers’ safety, turned into chaos as spectators and co-speaker Henry Reese intervened to assist Rushdie and restrain the attacker until police arrived.

Alleged Motive Tied to Iranian Fatwa
Prosecutors argue that Matar was motivated by a 1989 fatwa issued by then-Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, calling for Rushdie’s death over The Satanic Verses. The novel, which includes a dream sequence involving Islam’s Prophet Mohammed, sparked widespread protests in the Muslim world, with some viewing it as blasphemous.

Defence Strategy: Silence
Matar’s attorney, Nathaniel Barone, confirmed that his client, who has pleaded not guilty, would not take the stand. “At this time, the defence rests,” Barone said in court. Prosecutors also concluded their case on Tuesday, setting the stage for closing arguments. Matar’s decision to remain silent leaves the jury to weigh the evidence presented without hearing directly from him.

Why This Case Matters
The attack on Rushdie, a symbol of free expression, reignited global debates about the limits of artistic freedom and the enduring impact of religious edicts like Khomeini’s fatwa. The trial’s outcome could further clarify the legal consequences of actions inspired by such calls for violence, especially in a transnational context.

Source: South China Morning Post