Mark Stroman had been executed on Wednesday through lethal injection in Texas despite the appeal by the only surviving victim, Rhais Bhuiyan. Stroman was convicted to die through lethal injection after the shooting spree that he had done as a retaliation for the terrorist attacked at the World Trade Center wherein one of his family have been killed.
Mark Stroman was a 41-year-old Texas inmate convicted of killing an Indian, and a Pakistani whom he thought had came from an Arab or Middle Eastern descent. It was the death of Indian national, Pasudav Patel that put Stroman on death row.
The Indian national Pasudav Patel was working in a gas station when the shooting incident happened. He worked as a gas station clerk. His death had been regarded as one of the main reason why Stroman had been put on death row.
Meanwhile the Pakistani victim was also shoot by Stroman on a separate attacked. The incident happened after the September 11 terrorist attacked at the World Trade Center in New York. The retaliation of Stroman happened on September 21, 2011. This was the time when he shot Bangladeshi, Rhais Bhuiyan.
The execution of Mark Stroman was briefly delayed when the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals heed a call for final appeal from an unusual man, the only surviving victim of the post 9-11 shooting spree. A significant twist on the case, the Bangladeshi store clerk victim had appealed for lowering the sentence from death to life imprisonment.
Rhais Bhuiyan, the Bangladeshi store clerk that have been shoot by Stroman on point blank distance at the head with a shotgun that caused his blindness appealed to the court for halt the execution. The victim had stated that his Muslim faith had fuelled his decision to forgave the perpetrator that caused the lost of his sight.
The appeal had reached the Supreme Court of the United States but it was rejected by Justice Antonin Scalia. The Federal Judge in Austin had also turned down the request for an injunction on Wednesday. Another appeal were made in behalf of the victim Rhais Bhuiyan but all were rejected and the execution took place on Wednesday, July 21, 2011 (US Time).
Before the execution of Mark Stroman he had responded to an interview from the New York Times and wrote about his final thoughts on his execution. He was quoted as saying “Not only do I have all my friends and supporters trying to save my life, but now I have the Islamic Community joining in…Spearheaded by one very remarkable man named Rhais Bhuiyan, who is a survivor of my hate.” Troman stated.
He further adds that “His deep Islamic beliefs have gave him the strength to forgive the unforgiveable… that is truly inspiring to me, and should be an example for us all. The hate, has to stop, we are all in this world together.” Troman said.