Muslim Cab Driver Stabbed
Ahmed H. Sharif, 43, of Queens, was stabbed several times by Michael Enright, 21, of Southeast, N.Y., following Enright had asked Sharif if he was Muslim as well as the cabbie responded that he was, a police spokesman stated.
When officers responded for the scene close to 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, Sharif was outside the car, struggling with stab wounds, right after attempting to lock Enright within the cab, a police spokesman said. Enright escaped but was captured nearby by police.
The charges against Enright consist of attempted murder being a hate crime.
Inside a statement Wednesday the from New York Taxi Workers Alliance, Sharif warned his fellow cabbies.
“Right now the public sentiment is very serious” as a result of the ground zero mosque discussion, he stated. “All drivers should be more careful.”
Sharif, who was treated at Bellevue Hospital for stab wounds to his arms, throat and face, mentioned the incident made him sad.
“have been here more than 25 years. I have been driving a taxi more than 15 years. All my four kids were born here. I never feel this hopeless and insecure before,” he said.
