Syrian scientist featured on popular blog Humans of New York prompted response from Barack Obama and vast fundraising effort

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

US actor Edward Norton has raised more than $425,000 as of Tuesday for a Syrian refugee whom he read about on a popular blog and whose tragic story moved him to tears.



The Syrian, a scientist who lost seven members of his family in a bombing two years ago – including his wife and a daughter – was featured on the website Humans of New York earlier this month.



The blog, created in 2010 by US photographer Brandon Stanton, began by featuring everyday New Yorkers and sharing small snippets of their life stories but has now expanded to include individuals from other countries.

The Syrian, whom the website simply refers to as “the scientist”, is living in Istanbul but will soon move to Troy, Michigan.



“We survived but we’re dead psychologically. Everything ended for us that day,” he told the blog, which captured him in a series of photos, one of which shows him sitting on a couch between a son and daughter.

The refugee also said that he is suffering from stomach cancer that has not been properly treated due to lack of means.

“I just want to get back to work. I want to be a person again,” said the gray-haired scientist, whose story has drawn the attention of Barack Obama.

“As a husband and a father, I cannot even begin to imagine the loss you’ve endured,” 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,” Obama said.

Norton, who has starred in films including The Incredible Hulk, Fight Club and the Oscar-winning dark comedy Birdman, had raised $426,987 as of mid-Tuesday.

“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.

Obama has pledged to take in 10,000 Syrians over the course of the next year, but many American states – apparently fearing Islamist extremists will be hiding among the flow of refugees – have said they do not want them.