Honestly, the Salman Rushdie stabbing in 2022 was one of those stories that made me question how safe artists really are. Rushdie was attacked on stage by Hadi Matar, and it wasn't just some random act. Matar actually admitted in court he did it because he thought Rushdie was disrespectful. People say he was influenced by that fatwa from Iran decades ago, after Rushdie wrote The Satanic Verses.

What really surprised me was how the justice system handled things. The court didn't let it slide at all. Matar was found guilty of attempted murder and assault, and he got this massive sentence—25 years in prison, plus another sentence for injuring another guy who tried to help. Rushdie even testified himself, talking about how traumatic everything was. It seems like the courts wanted to send a message that violence over ideas isn't tolerated, at least in the US. I've noticed that some people thought Matar might get off lighter because it was his first crime, but nope, the judge went tough. Makes you really think about the limits between freedom of speech and personal safety these days. Rushdie's case is a crazy example of laws actually trying to protect writers, but it also shows just how scary standing up for your beliefs can be.