**Trial of Salman Rushdie's Alleged Attacker Set to Commence**

*Key witnesses, including Rushdie himself, are expected to testify as Matar pleads not guilty to serious charges.*

The high-profile trial of Hadi Matar, the 27-year-old accused of stabbing acclaimed author Salman Rushdie in 2022, is set to begin on Monday in Mayville, New York. Matar faces serious charges including attempted murder and assault after allegedly attacking Rushdie during a lecture at the Chautauqua Institute, an event he had anticipated for years.

Rushdie, 77, was severely injured in the assault, suffering damage to his liver and losing the sight in one eye. The incident, which was witnessed by several attendees and captured on video, occurred when Matar rushed on stage and attacked Rushdie and the interviewer, Henry Reese, who incurred only minor injuries. Following the stabbing, Rushdie was airlifted to a hospital where he underwent extensive medical care.

Hadi Matar, a native of Fairview, New Jersey, has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. His motive for the attack remains unclear, although he exhibited admiration for Ayatollah Khomeini, who previously issued a fatwa against Rushdie following the controversial publication of his 1988 novel, *The Satanic Verses*. Matar's legal team sought to have the trial moved due to concerns about local bias stemming from the case's notoriety, but their request was denied.

Despite the years that have passed since the initial threats against him, Rushdie had expressed a belief that the risks to his life had lowered until the sudden and violent assault interrupted his sense of safety. The trial is expected to provide extensive testimony, including from Rushdie himself, as Matar faces a potential maximum sentence of 32 years if convicted.

The trial will no doubt draw significant attention, as it highlights issues of free speech, security for writers, and the enduring impact of religious fatwas in modern contexts. Rushdie has detailed the aftermath of his injuries in his memoir, *Knife*, where he reflects on the tragedy of his experience and his thoughts on facing his assailant in court.