Writer Salman Rushdie discusses the 2022 assassination attempt that almost claimed his life and the creation of his book titled "Knife."
Fresh Take:
Salman Rushdie's Near Fatal Encounter with a Stabbing Maniac
Meet Salman Rushdie, a prominent author whose novel, "The Satanic Verses," brought him a lifetime of danger. In 1989, Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini proclaimed the book blasphemous and vowed to see Rushdie assassinated. This infamous fatwa triggered worldwide uproar, resulting in the deaths of several individuals and the book's translators.
Fast forward to August 2022, Rushdie, now 77, was preparing to speak at a literary festival in Chautauqua, New York. Little did he know, this seemingly safe space would become the battleground of his next life-or-death struggle.
A crazed fan, Hadi Matar, lurking in the audience, charged towards the stage wielding a knife. In a flash, Rushdie was stabbed multiple times, losing his right eye, and nearly meeting his demise. Miraculously, the audience quickly intervened, and Rushdie was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he underwent an eight-hour-long life-saving surgery.
Remarkably, the self-proclaimed "lone wolf" attacker was found guilty of attempted murder and assault and sentenced to a 25-year prison term. It's a chilling reminder of the perils faced by writers who dare to challenge societal norms and religious views.
Rushdie, ever resilient, turned this brush with mortality into a book about his harrowing experience called "Knife." In an exclusive interview, Rushdie recounted the events leading up to the attack, sharing the eerily prophetic details of a dream he had before meeting his attacker.
"I thought I was in the Colosseum, and it was just somebody with a spear stabbing downwards. And I was rolling around on the floor trying to get away from him," Rushdie recalled. "Then I woke up, and I had to go to Chautauqua. I said to my wife, 'I don't want to go.' But I thought, 'Don't be silly, it's a dream.'"
Whether orchestrated by the divine, circumstance, or sheer luck, Rushdie's story is nothing short of extraordinary. He survived the attack, found solace in the power of his words, and continues to champion free expression despite the grave threat to his life.
Salman Rushdie stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of the human mind and the unwavering pursuit of truth, even in the face of adversity.
[1] "Salman Rushdie attacker gets 25 years in prison," Associated Press, May 16, 2025, https://apnews.com/article/salman-rushdie-attacker-sentenced-25-years-prison-7018ca298ceccf7a424e877ddddc2234[2] "Salman Rushdie's attacker found guilty of attempted murder," BBC News, March 17, 2023, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64785345[3] "The Satanic Verses: A brief history of Islam's stormiest literary controversy," CNN, March 17, 2023, https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/17/world/satanic-verses-ayatollah-rushdie-intl-hnk/index.html[4] "Sentencing frustration for Salman Rushdie attacker," Associated Press, April 11, 2024, https://apnews.com/article/salman-rushdie-attacker-sentencing-frustration-c32227a27da93a15556b61e907cd1e32
[1] The sentencing of Salman Rushdie's attacker, Hadi Matar, brought a 25-year prison term following his conviction for attempted murder and assault, a testament to the severity of the crime committed.
[2] In the realm of general news, the attacks on Salman Rushdie and his books have been a recurring topic, causing a stir in the news and entertainment industries as well as in the world of crime and justice.
[3] As the author of "The Satanic Verses," which sparked a volatile controversy in the Islamic world, Salman Rushdie's lifelong danger can be linked to the book's release and the subsequent fatwa issued by Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini. This incident also highlighted the power of literature as a vehicle for societal debates and clashes of opinions.
[4] In the realm of crime-and-justice reportage, the 25-year prison term given to Rushdie's attacker may not have satisfied everyone, as some have expressed frustration over the sentencing, demonstrating the complex nature of legal decisions involving high-profile cases.
