Man slashed for saying he was a muslim

Acquaintances 'shocked' at film student's arrest in Muslim stabbing

What do you think? Sound off with your thoughts on CNN iReport. One reader submitted a video asking if there was a "Muslim Al Sharpton."

New York (CNN) -- A film student suspected of stabbing a New York cab driver after learning the driver was Muslim was described Thursday as someone who worked to build bridges across religious and ethnic boundaries.

Those who know Michael Enright, 21, a film student at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, are "shocked and dumbfounded" by his arrest, said Robert Chase, the executive director of Intersections International.

Enright volunteered with the nonprofit group, and it partially funded his trip to Afghanistan in the spring, where he shot a film on American soldiers serving there for his thesis, Chase said. The New York-based organization is aimed at promoting peace across faith and racial boundaries.

"Everyone was shocked and dumbfounded because of the nature of the crime and because of our experience with him here," Chase said. "It is sadly ironic."

He said Enright volunteered on Intersections International's "Veteran-Civilian Dialogue" program, which addresses trauma faced by returning veterans and encourages them to share their stories with civilians as well as each other.

"He was intrigued by the concept and started participating and then volunteering. Enright became involved in the work we do -- building bridges across race, culture and religion and forging common ground for reconciliation and peace," Chase said.

"The whole thing is unfathomable. He's a good guy. His work has been responsible. He's been diligent and hardworking."

Meanwhile, the cab driver, Ahmed Sharif, is scheduled to hold a news conference on the steps of City Hall. Beforehand, he is scheduled to meet with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, according to the mayor's schedule.

"I feel very sad," Sharif said in a statement released by the New York Taxi Workers Alliance. "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 [felt] this hopeless and insecure before."

Enright is facing charges of second-degree attempted murder as a hate crime, second-degree assault as a hate crime, second-degree aggravated harassment as a hate crime and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, said New York police Detective Mark Nell. Authorities said he was highly intoxicated at the time of the incident.

When Enright first got into Sharif's cab Tuesday night, the conversation was cordial at first, said Bhairavi Desai, executive director of the Taxi Workers Alliance.

The suspect "started out friendly, asking Mr. Sharif about where he was from, how long he had been in America, if he was Muslim and if he was observing fast during Ramadan," Desai said.

Then, after a few minutes of silence, Desai said Enright started cursing at Sharif and shouted "Assalamu Alaikum, consider this a checkpoint," before slashing him.

Assalamu Alaikum is an Arabic greeting that means "peace be upon you."

Bleeding heavily, Sharif was able to escape and flag down a police officer who arrested Enright, Desai said.

At the news conference, Sharif plans to call for an end to anti-Muslim rhetoric that has followed the proposed construction of an Islamic cultural center and mosque.

The center is planned two blocks from the site of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks.

"Right now, the public sentiment is very serious because of the Ground Zero mosque debate," Sharif said.

The taxi workers alliance said Sharif, 43, a practicing Muslim originally from Bangladesh, was slashed across the neck, face, shoulder and hand in the attack.

CNN's Jason Kessler, Meg Miller and Jesse Solomon contributed to this report.