New York:
A 21-year-old film student accused of slashing a taxi driver last week after questioning whether he was a Muslim was indicted on two hate crimes on Tuesday.
Michael Enright, was not present during the court proceedings, according to reports.
Last week, Enright stabbed 43-year-old Ahmed Sharif from Queens, after asking him "are you Muslim," according to NYC cops.
Sharif and his family, who are originally from Bangladesh, met with Mayor Michael Bloomberg at City Hall on Thursday.
"Of course this was for my religion," Sharif told reporters, after the meeting.
"He attacked me after he knew I was a Muslim. From my back, he attacked me," he added.
"It still is very sad, and it shocked me. And sometimes, I feel very lonely and unsafe".
Enright, a student of the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan had recently volunteered with an interfaith group that helped pay to send him to Afghanistan as part of a video project for his school. As part of the work, Enright spent time embedded with US troops.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Sharif, Enright shouted "Assalamu Alaikum, consider this a checkpoint," and slashed him on his arms, throat and face.
The attack comes at a time when the majority of Americans are opposing the building of a proposed Islamic Center near the World Trade Center.
Sharif, 43 warned other cabbies about the tense environment in the city.
"Right now the public sentiment is very serious" he said.
All drivers should be more careful.
"I 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," the cab driver added.
When arrested, Enright was carrying two notebooks that described his experiences in Afghanistan, along with an empty bottle of scotch, police have said.
If convicted, Enright could face up to 25 years in prison.