US actor Edward Norton raises more than $425,000 on Tuesday for a Syrian refugee after knowing the tragic story of the refugee on a popular blog that let Edward’s cry.
The Syrian refugee, a scientist who lost seven members of his family including his wife and a daughter in a bombing two years ago has become a symbol of the campaign for greater empathy towards Middle Eastern refugees in the US.
The man, whose plight- was featured on the website Humans of New York earlier this month, is known only as “the scientist” and currently living in Istanbul but will soon move to Troy, Michigan.
“We are surviving but we’re dead psychologically. Everything ended for us that day,” the scientist told the Blog.
“Right after it happened, “My son writes ‘Mom’ in his notebook over and over. He’d cry all night long. Two years have passed, but he’s still suffering so much,” “the scientist” said, who himself suffering from stomach cancer.
“That was our destiny. That was our share in life, he added. The blog shows a pic of the scientist with his son and daughter.
Speaking about his forthcoming move to the US, the scientist says, I wanted to live like before, wanted to work for humanity.”
“I still think I have a chance to make a difference in the world. I have several inventions that I’m hoping to patent once I get to America. One of my inventions is being used right now on the Istanbul metro to generate electricity from the movement of the train. I have sketches for a plane that can fly for 48 hours without fuel. I’ve been thinking about a device that can predict earthquakes weeks before they happen. I just want a place to do my research. I learned today that I’m going to Troy, Michigan. I know nothing about it. I just hope that it’s safe and that it’s a place where they respect science. I just want to get back to work. I want to be a person again. I don’t want the world to think I’m over. I’m still here”, says the Scientist.
The issue of refugees from the Middle East is currently a major political issue in the US, with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump calling for a ban on all Muslims entering the country following a terror attack in California by a Muslim couple.
The Scientist has already received the support of Mr Obama, and now Edward Norton has raised more than $425,000 (£283,000) to support him.
“Let’s reject the ‘anti-human’ voices that tell us to fear refugees and show this man and his family what Americans are really made of,” Norton said. “I saw this story on one of my favorite sites, Humans of New York, and it moved me to tears,” he said.
“As a husband and a father, I cannot even begin to imagine the loss you’ve endured,” Mr Obama posted on the Humans of New York Facebook page.
“You and your family are an inspiration. I know that the great people of Michigan will embrace you with the compassion and support you deserve.”