Muslim cab driver slashed by upstate NY man because of his religion, police say

The New York Daily News ^ | August 25 2010 | John Lauinger

[worst-case scenario]

A boozed-up bigot used a pocket knife to viciously slash an innocent cab driver in Manhattan - just because the driver was Muslim, police said Wednesday.

Michael Enright, 21, of upstate New York, was charged with felony attempted murder as a hate crime - among other crimes - after the sick attack on Ahmed Sharif, 43, Tuesday night.

"I feel very sad," Sharif said, according to a statement released by the Taxi Workers Alliance. "I have been here more than 25 years. I have been driving a taxi more than 15 years. All four of my kids were born here."

Sharif, who was slashed in the throat, upper lip, arm and hand, said he believes the battle over the Ground Zero mosque has inflamed anti-Muslim sentiment in America.

"I never feel this hopeless and insecure before," the Queens man said in the statement. "Right now, the public sentiment is very serious (because of the Ground Zero mosque debate). All \[taxi\] drivers should be more careful."

Enright, of Brewster, was "very, very intoxicated" when he hailed Sharif's yellow cab shortly after 6 p.m. Tuesday, a police source said.

[G Larry]

>http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0810/AntiMuslim_attacker_works_at_proPark51_group.html<

Alleged anti-Muslim attacker works at pro-Park51 group

No, the cabbie was NOT “in on it”.
The perp simply justified his actions by believing it would further his (their) cause.
Makes it look like the bigotry charge is real.