Apparition
25th August 2010, 11:23 AM
The apparent anti-Muslim assault on a New York city cabbie by a man shouting “Assalamu Alaikum. Consider this a checkpoint" produced an immediate round of recriminations over its connection to opposition to a New York Islamic Center and an apparent rising tide of Islamophobia.
But as often at the intersection of politics and violent crime, the story doesn't appear to fit any easy stereotype: The alleged assailant, Michael Enright, is — according to his Facebook profile and the website of the left-leaning media organization Intersections International — a student at the School of Visual Arts and a volunteer for Intersections, which recently produced a statement of support for the Park51 project, and is funded by the mainstream, liberal Collegiate Church of New York.
And Intersections did not respond to two messages and the group does not appear to be picking up the phone. Enright did not respond to a message through his Facebook account.
But this appears to be the same man: Police described Enright as a resident of Brewster, 21, and an employee of an "Internet media company who had recently spent time with a combat unit in Afghanistan filming military exercises until this past May."
His Facebook picture, above, appears to show him in Afghanistan. The page describes him as a cinematographer and photographer for Intersections.
The Village Voice first reported the connection.
Source: http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0810/AntiMuslim_attacker_works_at_proPark51_group.html
Interesting...
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In case any of you haven't read the incident on the NYC Muslim cab driver who was stabbed allegedly due to Islamophobia:
A boozed-up bigot who just returned from filming U.S. Marines in Afghanistan used a pocket knife to slash a Manhattan cabbie - 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.
Enright told the Journal News in a story about his film work in Afghanistan that he works for Intersections International, a Manhattan-based organization that promotes peace.
Enright's Facebook page also makes the same claim. Intersections International, which did not respond to requests for comment, supports the controversial mosque planned for construction near Ground Zero.
Sharif, who was slashed in the throat, upper lip, arm and hand, said he believes the vicious attack may have been rooted in the anti-Muslim fervor that has been inflammed by the mosque debate.
"I feel very sad," Sharif said, according to a statement released by the Taxi Workers Alliance.
"I never feel this hopeless and insecure before," added the Queens father of four who has been in the United States for 25 years. "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.
According to the Taxi Workers Alliance, Enright was friendly when he first got into the cab, asking Sharif where he was from, how long had he been in America and whether he was Muslim.
Police confirmed that Enright inquired about Sharif's religion.
After his initial flurry of questions, Enright grew silent for several minutes before suddenly attacking the unsuspecting Sharif in Murray Hill, according to the union.
Just before Enright whipped out the knife from his multi-gadget Leatherman tool, according to the Taxi Workers Union, he barked: "Al salaam aalaykum," which means "Peace be upon you" in Arabic.
The Taxi Workers Union said Enright reached through the partially open plastic barrier separating the front seat from the back in order to attack Sharif.
Sharif fought back in self-defense and Enright fled the vehicle near 42nd St., according to the union. Sharif flagged down a cop along 42nd St. and the officer chased down Enright, according to the union spokeswoman, Bhairavi Desai.
Enright was shipped off to Bellevue Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation, police said. He's expected to arraigned Wednesday afternoon.
In addition to the charge of attempted murder as a hate crime, cops booked Enright for assault with a weapon as a hate crime, harassment as a hate crime and criminal possession of a weapon, police said.
Sharif was treated at Bellevue hospital and released.
Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/08/25/2010-08-25_muslim_cab_driver_slashed_by_upstate_new_york_m an_because_of_his_religion_police.html
But as often at the intersection of politics and violent crime, the story doesn't appear to fit any easy stereotype: The alleged assailant, Michael Enright, is — according to his Facebook profile and the website of the left-leaning media organization Intersections International — a student at the School of Visual Arts and a volunteer for Intersections, which recently produced a statement of support for the Park51 project, and is funded by the mainstream, liberal Collegiate Church of New York.
And Intersections did not respond to two messages and the group does not appear to be picking up the phone. Enright did not respond to a message through his Facebook account.
But this appears to be the same man: Police described Enright as a resident of Brewster, 21, and an employee of an "Internet media company who had recently spent time with a combat unit in Afghanistan filming military exercises until this past May."
His Facebook picture, above, appears to show him in Afghanistan. The page describes him as a cinematographer and photographer for Intersections.
The Village Voice first reported the connection.
Source: http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0810/AntiMuslim_attacker_works_at_proPark51_group.html
Interesting...
-----------------------
In case any of you haven't read the incident on the NYC Muslim cab driver who was stabbed allegedly due to Islamophobia:
A boozed-up bigot who just returned from filming U.S. Marines in Afghanistan used a pocket knife to slash a Manhattan cabbie - 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.
Enright told the Journal News in a story about his film work in Afghanistan that he works for Intersections International, a Manhattan-based organization that promotes peace.
Enright's Facebook page also makes the same claim. Intersections International, which did not respond to requests for comment, supports the controversial mosque planned for construction near Ground Zero.
Sharif, who was slashed in the throat, upper lip, arm and hand, said he believes the vicious attack may have been rooted in the anti-Muslim fervor that has been inflammed by the mosque debate.
"I feel very sad," Sharif said, according to a statement released by the Taxi Workers Alliance.
"I never feel this hopeless and insecure before," added the Queens father of four who has been in the United States for 25 years. "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.
According to the Taxi Workers Alliance, Enright was friendly when he first got into the cab, asking Sharif where he was from, how long had he been in America and whether he was Muslim.
Police confirmed that Enright inquired about Sharif's religion.
After his initial flurry of questions, Enright grew silent for several minutes before suddenly attacking the unsuspecting Sharif in Murray Hill, according to the union.
Just before Enright whipped out the knife from his multi-gadget Leatherman tool, according to the Taxi Workers Union, he barked: "Al salaam aalaykum," which means "Peace be upon you" in Arabic.
The Taxi Workers Union said Enright reached through the partially open plastic barrier separating the front seat from the back in order to attack Sharif.
Sharif fought back in self-defense and Enright fled the vehicle near 42nd St., according to the union. Sharif flagged down a cop along 42nd St. and the officer chased down Enright, according to the union spokeswoman, Bhairavi Desai.
Enright was shipped off to Bellevue Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation, police said. He's expected to arraigned Wednesday afternoon.
In addition to the charge of attempted murder as a hate crime, cops booked Enright for assault with a weapon as a hate crime, harassment as a hate crime and criminal possession of a weapon, police said.
Sharif was treated at Bellevue hospital and released.
Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/08/25/2010-08-25_muslim_cab_driver_slashed_by_upstate_new_york_m an_because_of_his_religion_police.html