A trial has commenced for Hadi Matar, accused of stabbing author Salman Rushdie in 2022, which resulted in severe injuries. Matar has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors described the attack as premeditated and violent, invoking a fatwa against Rushdie for his book, 'The Satanic Verses.' Matar faces significant charges, including attempted murder and related terrorism charges, with both the state and federal cases ongoing. Rushdie, who wrote about the attack in his memoir, witnessed a backlash due to the politically charged nature of the incident. Public interest in the trial remains high due to its implications for free speech and artistic expression.