NEW YORK, NY-Author Salman Rushdie gave a chilling account of the 2022 knife attack that left him blind in one eye while testifying on July 23 at the federal terrorism trial of his assailant, Hadi Matar.

Describing the attack, Rushdie told jurors he was knocked to the stage floor as Matar repeatedly stabbed him.

“I was on the stage, lying down, with an enormous pool of blood all around me,” he said.

“I tried to get away, but he was on top of me, stabbing away.”

Matar, who was convicted in a New York state court of attempting to murder Rushdie in 2022, is now on trial in federal court in Buffalo on charges of transnational terrorism.

Under the US legal system, state and federal authorities can separately prosecute the same incident under their respective laws. Matar is serving a 25-year prison sentence imposed by the state court. If convicted on the federal terrorism charges, he could face life in prison.

Assistant US Attorney Timothy Lynch told the court on July 22 that Matar, a 28-year-old US citizen of Lebanese descent, attacked Rushdie in an attempt to carry out the fatwa issued in 1989 by Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who called for the author’s death after his novel, ‘The Satanic Verses’, was considered blasphemous.

Rushdie, a Booker Prize-winning author, was participating in a literary programme at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York when he was attacked. Ironically, he had been scheduled to speak on protecting writers.

During his testimony, Rushdie removed the special glasses he now wears at the request of Assistant US Attorney Timothy Lynch so jurors could see his missing right eye.

Rushdie said the attack also damaged his left hand and liver and left him unable to drive.

Federal prosecutors have alleged that between September 2020 and August 2022, Matar attempted to provide material support and resources to Hezbollah, forming the basis of the terrorism charges.

Matar’s defense attorney, Nathaniel Barone, argued that his client acted alone as an enraged Muslim and not on behalf of Hezbollah or any other group.

During cross-examination, Barone asked Rushdie whether he should have expected an attack by Islamic extremists because of ‘The Satanic Verses’.

Rushdie rejected the suggestion, replying, “I don’t believe the book is on trial. Somebody else is on trial.” (IANS)