Turkish artist sustains severe injuries when pushed onto train in New York City

A Turkish woman was seriously injured after a man shoved her head into a New York City subway car over the weekend, in what her husband described as an “attack on all New Yorkers”.

“This is an act of violence not only against my wife but against all New Yorkers,” Ferdi Ozsoy told Anadolu Agency (AA) while he was waiting for positive updates regarding his wife, Emin Yılmaz Ozsoy. Emine, 35, is an award-winning artist and illustrator who remains hospitalized in critical condition after the brutal subway attack.

The alleged perpetrator, 39-year-old Kemal Samrad, who was reportedly homeless, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with attempted murder in the assault on Ozsoy.

Referring to the day of the accident, Ozsoy indicated that he had received a call from the police informing him of the subway accident and informing him that his wife had been taken to the hospital.

“Emine broke her neck. She is currently completely immobile. I came to New York late and the surgery took about 11 hours,” Ozsoy said.

“She fought through surgery like a warrior. She is a woman who broke barriers. She is a woman who always pursued her dreams. She is an artist. She is a friend. She is the sweetest person you could ever meet in your life,” he told A.J. A while standing outside the hospital where Amina is currently being treated.

He expressed his gratitude to the New Yorkers who assisted Amina at the scene, the eyewitnesses, the detectives involved in the investigation, and the New York Police Department (NYPD) for their swift arrest of the attacker.

“I was hoping the mayor’s office would call us to check on us,” he noted.

Highlighting the importance of the Underground Railroad as the “lifeline of the city”, he questioned the prospects of a city’s prosperity when the artist is so tragically victimized. He stressed the need for security within the underground transportation system that connects different parts of the city.

“There needs to be action to protect the livelihoods of the people who live in this great city. They need to bring order in, they need to invest in the subway,” he said.

Although the New York City Subway is the “greatest” and “oldest” mode of transportation in the world, it is not the “safest,” according to Ozsoy.

Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page was set up to help the Ozsoy family with their medical expenses, which have already reached six figures. As of Friday afternoon, the page has raised nearly $195,000 in donations.

“This campaign exists to support Amina’s life after the hospital in order to give her a fighting chance to enjoy the rest of her journey in this life,” he said. “But at the moment, we’re looking for more. It’s not the donations we’re looking for. But we’re looking for a way to get through these difficult times.”

“I hope she regains her strength in order to continue creating the beautiful art that she has had throughout her years, to continue to make people happy, to show a side of her creativity,” he added.