Az. Muslim dies in struggle.

[PsychoDad]

He was assisting a police officer.
May Allah accept his maryterdom, and grant him the best of paradise.

POLICE IDENTIFY DEPUTY, TWO OTHERS KILLED IN STRUGGLE LAST NIGHT -
Jeffry Scott, Arizona Daily Star, 8/11/05
http://www.azstarnet.com/dailystar/dailystar/88244.php

Authorities have released the name of a Pima County Sheriff's Deputy killed in the line of duty Wednesday night near West Ajo Way and South Kinney Road, the name of a man who died while trying to help him and the name of a suspect who started a fight with them.

Deputy Timothy David Graham, 30, went to a Circle K at the intersection around 8 p.m., after a 911 call reported a "crazed man" at the store. That man, 23-year-old Aaron Swyers, fought Graham across the gas station lot, across the eastbound lanes of traffic and into a wide median with tall grass.

A nearby taxi cab driver, Dawud Isa Abusida, 56, who saw the deputy's struggle, parked his car and ran to help. With his assistance, Graham was able to get handcuffs on one of the Swyers's wrists.

But during the struggle, all three men fell into the westbound fast lane and were hit by a pickup driven by a 70-year-old man, who had his 12-year-old grandson with him. Officials have not yet released the name of the driver. Graham, Abusida and Swyers died at the scene.

Also...

THE 3 WHO PAID DEARLY
Arizona Daily Star, 8/12/05
http://www.dailystar.com/dailystar/allheadlines/88385.php

Dawud Isa Abusida

Dawud Isa Abusida, 56, was a veteran Tucson cabdriver who started his own business, Budget Cabs, just two months ago.

He also was a scientist, with a master's degree in food science from the University of Arizona, a fact that surprised many of his co-workers, who said he never mentioned it, though he displayed a keen intelligence.

His co-workers and his family were not surprised to learn he died while trying to help a sheriff's deputy. His youngest son, Islam, 24, said his father's actions were consistent with the man he had become.

"I'm really proud of him and what he did, even though it did cost him his life," he said.

He said his father did "a lot of good things and gave good advice. He always told me to plan as if you're going to live forever but prepare yourself like you're going to die today."

When there is so much news of Muslims dying in the act of horrible deeds, it is refreshing to be reminded that most are good people.

[Not_Giving_Up]

1. Damn

Poor guy was trying to help and got run over. How awful!

[Wetzelbill]

2. wow that's here in Tucson

I usually don't watch the news. I read most of my stuff here on DU. Gosh that is too bad. Really sad. :)

[kestrel91316]

3. Hoping this one is in the Paradise he deserves....................

but so sad for his family.

This is what religion should be about: doing THE RIGHT THING, even if the price is high.

[madeline_con]

4. Sad...

Peace of Allah on his family....

[Dogmudgeon]

5. I'm not sure that's martyrdom

Mr. Abusida died performing an exemplary deed. He died not for the faith of Islam per se, but for a humane purpose, thus doing God's will.

It's a different kind of heroism, but Mr. Abusida should be remembered as a great man.

--p!

[manic expression]

6. Your last paragraph

"...most are good people."

I completely agree with you. I find it sad that we must actually remind people of this.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

7. Pigwidgeon

I have to disagree with you. To be a martyr one has to die doing God's will. It is a Catholic thing to die for God's name, look at Joan of ARC to see the fallacy of the burned heretic later upgraded to Saint.

If you love God above all else and love your neighbor as yourself and do what is put in your heart (by God) then you are a Martyr, period.

[Dogmudgeon]

9. That's a good point

I was probably parsing the meaning a little too closely, since the death occurred by a traffic accident, not the intentional act of murder of a Muslim.

From the other side of the linguistic divide, I never fail to notice that altruism, independent of religious or other belief, is the closest thing we humans have to miracles. Altruism takes such little conscious effort and produces such powerful effects -- and yet, its miraculous quality is so easily overlooked.

I only hope that Mr. Abusida's death can turn this story into a living fable to inspire people long after his body has gone back to its component parts.

--p!

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Zhade]

10. Kick

Kick

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. Oh man. :^( Poor guy, poor family.. poor people in the truck

[spuddonna]

12. My heart goes out to Mr. Abusida's family... :( n/t