A Victim of 9/11 Hate Crime Fights for Attacker’s Life

I’m deeply inspired by this story:
Rais Bhuiyan making a courageous stand to end cycles of violence flowing from 9/11…

Days after the 9/11 terror attacks, 31-year old laborer Mark Stroman went on a shooting spree in the Dallas area. In a drug-fueled mission of revenge, he killed two South Asian immigrants and shot another — Rais Bhuiyan — in the face at close range, blinding him in one eye.

Shortly after his arrest, Stroman boasted of his role as “Arab Slayer.”

Now, as Stroman faces imminent execution in Texas, an unlikely champion is fighting to save his life: Bhuiyan, who spent years recovering from the wounds he suffered in the attack.

“I’ve had many years to grow spiritually,” said Bhuiyan, a Muslim who immigrated to the U.S. from Bangladesh and now works as technology professional in Dallas. “I’m trying to do my best not to allow the loss of another human life. I’ll knock on every door possible.”

Bhuiyan began collecting signatures late last year on a petition asking the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to commute Stroman’s death penalty sentence to life in prison without parole through his website “World without Hate.” Now he is working systematically through legal and political channels save Stroman’s life.

Read the whole story here.

Update 6/19/2011: Listen to Bhuiyan on NPR here.