Religion Muslim 9/11 Hate-Crime Victim Seeks To Save His Attacker

Dave Lane · 02-08-2013, 07:54 AM

Just 10 days after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Rais Bhuiyan was working at a gas station in Dallas when he was shot in the face by a man named Mark Stroman.

Stroman was on a shooting spree, targeting people who appeared to be Muslim or of Middle Eastern descent. Stroman is due to be executed July 20; Bhuiyan, the only survivor of the attacks, is fighting to save his life.

When Stroman entered the gas station, Bhuiyan initially thought it was a routine robbery.

"I opened the cash register, offered him the cash, and requested him not to shoot me," Bhuiyan tells weekends on All Things Considered host Laura Sullivan. "In reply he asked me, 'Where are you from?' And the question seemed strange to ask during a robbery. And I said, 'Excuse me?' And as soon as I spoke, I felt the sensation of a million bees stinging my face, and then heard an explosion."

Bhuiyan required medical attention for years after the attack. The bullet hit him on the right side of the face, leaving severe injuries, particularly to his right eye.

"I had to go through several surgeries and finally the doctor could save the eye, but the vision is gone, and I'm still carrying more than 35 pellets on the right side of my face," he says. "Once I touch my face, my skull, I can feel it's all bumpy. It took several years to go through all these painful surgeries one after another one."

Further complicating matters, Bhuiyan's family was still living in his native Bangladesh. When told what had happened, the family faced another kind of unexpected tragedy.

Bhuiyan in 2011.

Jim Mahoney/The Dallas Morning News
"My dad suffered a stroke when he heard the news that his son was shot in the face," Bhuiyan says. "My entire family — it was another trauma for them.

"They were out of food, they were out of sleep. They couldn't even do anything for at least three to four days, because they had no news from my side: ... What I was going through? Am I still alive? It was another disaster."

Despite the difficulties, Bhuiyan looked to his faith in order to find forgiveness.

"According to my faith in Islam, there is no hate, no killing. It doesn't allow anything like that," says Bhuiyan. "Yes, Mark Stroman did a horrible thing, and he brought a lot of pain and disaster, sufferings in my life. But in return I never hated him."

Bhuiyan has created a website called World Without Hate to educate others about hate crimes as a means of preventing them. He's also working with Amnesty International and Stroman's defense attorney, who has filed several appeals on Stroman's death sentence.

"I strongly believe executing him is not a solution. We will just simply lose a human life without dealing with the root cause, which is hate crime," Bhuiyan says. "In Islam it says that saving one human life is the same as saving the entire mankind. Since I forgave him, all those principles encouraged me to go even further, and stop his execution and save another human life."

**LiveSteam** · 02-08-2013, 07:57 AM

"According to my faith in Islam, there is no hate, no killing. It doesn't allow anything like that," says Bhuiyan.
Awwwwwwwwww. Islam is so sweet.

Dave Lane · 02-08-2013, 08:14 AM

I guess its not possible to have Muslims that believe that.

**LiveSteam** · 02-08-2013, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

I guess its not possible to have Muslims that believe that.

My dead friends would agree

scott free · 02-08-2013, 09:51 AM

Everyones -me too at times- always screaming "where are the moderate muslims?"

Well heres one, hats off to him.

PaulAllen · 02-08-2013, 10:19 AM

If only that guy had a bomb attached to his chest he wouldn't have been messed with.

MagicHef · 02-08-2013, 10:20 AM

Mark Stroman was executed in July 2011.

Dayze · 02-08-2013, 10:44 AM

I know lots of Muslims; my best friend is a Muslim. / obligatory.

JohninGpt · 02-08-2013, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagicHef

Mark Stroman was executed in July 2011.

Well then, this guy better hurry.

Prison Bitch · 02-08-2013, 12:37 PM

Why is this 2-year old story being posted, exactly?

Taco John · 02-08-2013, 12:54 PM

A story that paints a practitioner of Islam is a positive light? We will not have it sir! We will not have it!

KChiefer · 02-08-2013, 01:16 PM

000000;width:520px;">

FFFFFF;padding:4px;margin-top:4px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;">The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

"Mo Muslims Mo Problems"

stevieray · 02-08-2013, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Why is this 2-year old story being posted, exactly?

....it's the new black....or the ultimate end game of poltical correctness.

go bowe · 02-09-2013, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevieray

....it's the new black....or the ultimate end game of poltical correctness.

portraying muslims as good people?

that's the ultimate end game?

all this other pc crap was just a warm-up to the ultimate end game?

muslims?

that's it?

Dave Lane · 02-09-2013, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by go bowe

portraying muslims as good people?

that's the ultimate end game?

all this other pc crap was just a warm-up to the ultimate end game?

muslims?

that's it?

Posting them damned positive stories its all an evil plot!

Or the massive loss of brain cells from bong hits and pantaloons.

02-08-2013, 07:54 AM
Dave Lane Space Cadet and Aczabel Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Kansas City, Mo, USA Casino cash: $2231091	Muslim 9/11 Hate-Crime Victim Seeks To Save His Attacker Just 10 days after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Rais Bhuiyan was working at a gas station in Dallas when he was shot in the face by a man named Mark Stroman. Stroman was on a shooting spree, targeting people who appeared to be Muslim or of Middle Eastern descent. Stroman is due to be executed July 20; Bhuiyan, the only survivor of the attacks, is fighting to save his life. When Stroman entered the gas station, Bhuiyan initially thought it was a routine robbery. "I opened the cash register, offered him the cash, and requested him not to shoot me," Bhuiyan tells weekends on All Things Considered host Laura Sullivan. "In reply he asked me, 'Where are you from?' And the question seemed strange to ask during a robbery. And I said, 'Excuse me?' And as soon as I spoke, I felt the sensation of a million bees stinging my face, and then heard an explosion." Bhuiyan required medical attention for years after the attack. The bullet hit him on the right side of the face, leaving severe injuries, particularly to his right eye. "I had to go through several surgeries and finally the doctor could save the eye, but the vision is gone, and I'm still carrying more than 35 pellets on the right side of my face," he says. "Once I touch my face, my skull, I can feel it's all bumpy. It took several years to go through all these painful surgeries one after another one." Further complicating matters, Bhuiyan's family was still living in his native Bangladesh. When told what had happened, the family faced another kind of unexpected tragedy. Bhuiyan in 2011. Jim Mahoney/The Dallas Morning News "My dad suffered a stroke when he heard the news that his son was shot in the face," Bhuiyan says. "My entire family — it was another trauma for them. "They were out of food, they were out of sleep. They couldn't even do anything for at least three to four days, because they had no news from my side: ... What I was going through? Am I still alive? It was another disaster." Despite the difficulties, Bhuiyan looked to his faith in order to find forgiveness. "According to my faith in Islam, there is no hate, no killing. It doesn't allow anything like that," says Bhuiyan. "Yes, Mark Stroman did a horrible thing, and he brought a lot of pain and disaster, sufferings in my life. But in return I never hated him." Bhuiyan has created a website called World Without Hate to educate others about hate crimes as a means of preventing them. He's also working with Amnesty International and Stroman's defense attorney, who has filed several appeals on Stroman's death sentence. "I strongly believe executing him is not a solution. We will just simply lose a human life without dealing with the root cause, which is hate crime," Bhuiyan says. "In Islam it says that saving one human life is the same as saving the entire mankind. Since I forgave him, all those principles encouraged me to go even further, and stop his execution and save another human life."
Posts: 23,523

02-08-2013, 07:57 AM	#2
LiveSteam All aboard the crazy train Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: homeof43conferencetitles Casino cash: $77718	"According to my faith in Islam, there is no hate, no killing. It doesn't allow anything like that," says Bhuiyan. Awwwwwwwwww. Islam is so sweet.
Posts: 16,678

02-08-2013, 09:51 AM	#5
scott free ask for it by name Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: the goldilocks zone Casino cash: $3187123	Everyones -me too at times- always screaming "where are the moderate muslims?" Well heres one, hats off to him.
Posts: 26,761

02-08-2013, 10:19 AM	#6
PaulAllen Starter Join Date: Jan 2013 Casino cash: $3186	If only that guy had a bomb attached to his chest he wouldn't have been messed with.
Posts: 316

02-08-2013, 10:20 AM	#7
MagicHef The Seated Villain Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Fort Collins Casino cash: $265778	Mark Stroman was executed in July 2011.
Posts: 4,580

02-08-2013, 10:44 AM	#8
Dayze Resident Glue Sniffer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Overland Park Casino cash: $1238254	I know lots of Muslims; my best friend is a Muslim. / obligatory. __________________ Life is 99% inspiration, 1% Perspiration, and 1% Attention to Detial.
Posts: 25,037

02-08-2013, 12:37 PM	#10
Prison Bitch The Bitch is back Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Lees summit Casino cash: $80498	Why is this 2-year old story being posted, exactly?
Posts: 12,492

02-08-2013, 12:54 PM	#11
Taco John 12on Paul Join Date: Jun 2001 Casino cash: $10100710	A story that paints a practitioner of Islam is a positive light? We will not have it sir! We will not have it! __________________ Ehyeh asher ehyeh.
Posts: 50,702

02-08-2013, 01:16 PM	#12
KChiefer Fantastic Planeteer Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Champaign, IL Casino cash: $999189	000000;width:520px;"> FFFFFF;padding:4px;margin-top:4px;margin-bottom:0px;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px;">The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook "Mo Muslims Mo Problems"
Posts: 4,748

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode