"Of course this was for my religion," says Ahmed Sharif, the Muslim NYC cab driver who survived a savage knife attack in his taxi, "he attacked me after he knew I was Muslim."
It is no secret that anti-Muslim hate crime is on the rise in recent days, as residents of New York City are being driven to blind rage against fellow Muslim American citizens by bigots intent on spreading misinformation about Park51.
The infamous Ground Zero mosque is neither a mosque, nor on Ground Zero - but tell that to the haters.
Meeting with NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg and speaking to the press, Sharif was still in pain and at times appeared overwhelmed, "Still I have a view of the knife when I close my eyes."
Sharif's attacker, Michael Enright, had recently returned from filming Marines in Afghanistan.
"From my back, he attacked me," said Sharif speaking at the steps of City Hall, "it still is very sad, and it shocked me. And sometimes, I feel very lonely and unsafe."
"It's disgraceful," remarked Mayor Bloomberg, "I thought the (NY) Post said it perfectly: 'What a disgrace.'"
"I saw so much anger on his face, so much hate," Sharif elaborated.
"I begged him, 'Please don't kill me.' I was thinking about my four kids. If I'm gone, there is no one to care for them."
Despite the nightmare attack, Sharif did not appear resentful or embittered, "I feel like I belong here."
"This is the city actually [for] all colors, races, religion, everyone. We live here side by side peacefully."
Yusuf Khan Subscribe Facebook Twitter
Comments
it's good there is no resentment, that is very big of Mr. Sharif> I hope Enright regrets what he did since he was volunteering for an organization meant to create understanding between communities.
Get the facts straight folks. The 'peace group' this guy belonged to SUPPORTED building the Mosque at ground zero. He asked the cabbie if he was Muslim and he said yes. Next he asked if he supported the building and he said no. Then they guy jumped up front and said, "You're a Muslim and I gotta take you down." This is the cabbie's quote. I saw it when he was first interviwed. SO we may not be hearing too much more about this as it doesn't support the vision of the Media. Drunk and stupid is not the answer but neither is cherry-picking facts to support a preconceived agenda.
Is your mother's name Laurelle Michael?
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