• The trial of Hadi Matar, accused of stabbing Salman Rushdie, commences with jury selection.
• Rushdie, who suffered severe injuries, will testify as a key witness.
• The case highlights issues of bias and the implications of past fatwas issued against the author.

MAYVILLE, N.Y. — The highly anticipated trial of Hadi Matar, the man charged with attempted murder in the stabbing of renowned author Salman Rushdie, is set to unfold in Chautauqua County, New York, with jury selection beginning on Tuesday. Matar, 26, is accused of rushing the stage and attacking Rushdie during a lecture on August 12, 2022, resulting in severe injuries that left the novelist blind in one eye and damaged his liver.

Matar has pleaded not guilty to the charges of second-degree attempted murder and assault. Witness accounts and video footage captured during the event will be crucial to the prosecution as they prepare to present their case. District Attorney Jason Schmidt indicated that multiple witnesses, estimated at around 15, are expected to testify throughout the trial, which is projected to last several weeks.

Rushdie, now 77, has faced death threats since the 1988 publication of his novel The Satanic Verses, which some Muslims consider blasphemous. Following the attack, he published a memoir titled Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder, in which he describes the harrowing moments of the stabbing. “I can still see the moment in slow motion,” he recalls, capturing the chaos of that day. The attack has caused significant physical and emotional trauma, with Rushdie expressing uncertainty about facing his attacker in court.

Matar's defense, led by attorney Nathaniel Barone, has argued against a plea deal, emphasizing the importance of due process. The defense is also seeking to screen potential jurors for biases stemming from the high-profile nature of the case and the defendant's Arab heritage. Barone has claimed that the narrative surrounding the attack has potentially created a prejudicial atmosphere.

In addition to state charges, Matar is also facing federal indictments that allege his actions were motivated by a fatwa issued by the late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, where he called for Rushdie’s death. The Iranian government formally disavowed the fatwa in 1998, but its repercussions have continued to resonate. Prosecutors are likely to highlight Matar's alleged connections to Hezbollah, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S.

During the trial proceedings, jurors may be shown not only video evidence of the attack but also witness testimonies from those present during the incident at the Chautauqua Institution. Schmidt has stated that the focus will remain on the immediate circumstances of the attack rather than the broader context of the fatwa. The outcome of the trial may carry significant implications for discussions around freedom of expression and religious intolerance.

To follow the developments of this ongoing case, visit The Guardian or Reuters for more updates.