Salman Rushdie testifies at the terrorism trial of the man convicted of stabbing him

Summary by The San Antonio Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by John Wawrow And Jennifer Peltz, Associated Press, KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) · July 23, 2026 · 4 min read

Four years after being stabbed on an amphitheater stage, Salman Rushdie sat across a courtroom from his convicted attacker Thursday and told jurors for a second time about the ambush that nearly killed him. The prize-winning author recalled feeling what he thought was a punch under his chin, not ...

Why this matters in The San Antonio

San Antonio residents may wonder how a terrorism trial in Buffalo, New York, could have any relevance to their community. However, the case against Hadi Matar, who is accused of stabbing author Salman Rushdie, has implications for the local discussion on free speech and artistic expression. As a city with a thriving arts scene, San Antonio values the ability of writers, artists, and musicians to create and share their work without fear of reprisal. The attack on Rushdie, who was preparing to speak about threats to writers and artists, serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of extremist ideology. As the trial continues, San Antonians may consider the importance of protecting and promoting freedom of expression in their own community, and the need for vigilance against those who would seek to silence others through violence. This case may also prompt local leaders to reassess their strategies for preventing and responding to hate crimes.

About this story

Original reporting by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate). The San Antonio surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page.

For the complete original report, visit KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate). Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom.

Category: local · Published: July 23, 2026 · Source: KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) · Reading time: 4 min

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This article was first published on July 23, 2026 by KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate) and curated for The San Antonio readers.

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Summary created by	The San Antonio Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed
Original reporting	John Wawrow And Jennifer Peltz, Associated Press, KSAT 12 (ABC affiliate)
Original story	Read at the source
Source published	Jul 23, 2026
Indexed here	Jul 23, 2026
AI assistance	Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text
Prepublication human review	No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples

Salman Rushdie testifies at the terrorism trial of the man convicted of stabbing him

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