Ahmed Sharif, the New York City cab driver stabbed after allegedly being asked if he was Muslim, described the violent attack to local TV news reporters, saying he pleaded with his attacker not to kill him.

"He start yelling at like 39th Street and 3rd Avenue," Sharif told the local ABC affiliate. "'This is a checkpoint, this is checkpoint, motherfucker, I have to put you down.'"

"I saw the knife coming through my neck right here," Sharif told FOX, showing his wounds. "Once I see his face, is so much anger and mad at me, I don't know, and hate. He have to kill me. And I ask him, 'Please don't kill me, why you have to kill me, what I did?'"

"Then again he hit me, then I'm trying to fighting for life, protect myself, but still he cursing and yelling," Sharif added.

On Tuesday night, Sharif was allegedly stabbed by Michael Enright, a 21-year-old film student. Enright has been charged with attempted murder as a hate crime.

Sharif will meet with Mayor Michael Bloomberg at City Hall later today.

Republished with permission from TalkingPointsMemo.com. Authored by Eric Lach. TPM provides breaking news, investigating reporting and smart analysis of politics.