Muslim Killed Muslims: Anti-Shia Hatred Reaches the US?
DALLAS, TX (IANS) – A Muslim man in the US has been charged in the serial killing of four Muslims from Pakistan and Afghanistan, which a leading American Islamic organization said may have been motivated by “anti-Shia hatred”.
Police announced on August 10 that they had arrested Muhammad Syed, 51, as the “primary suspect” in the killings in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Officials, civil rights groups and the media had stoked fears in the Islamic community of bias attacks against Muslims.
President Joe Biden had tweeted that he was “angered” by the killings and that his “administration stands strongly with the Muslim community”.
The possibility of anti-Shia killings in the US could indicate that the religious turmoil in Pakistan and Afghanistan where Sunni terrorist groups target Shias has reached the US.
Two of the killings took place during the observances of Muharram, a period of religious mourning for Shias.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) admitted that “anti-Shia hatred” may have “motivated the killings” after its Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell had earlier issued a general warning that “the lives of Albuquerque Muslims are in danger” and asked Muslims across the US to “exercise vigilance”.
CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said: “Although we are waiting to learn more about these crimes, we are disturbed by early indications that the alleged killer may have been targeting particular members of the Shia community.”
Alburquerque police said they found evidence that the alleged killer knew the victims and “an interpersonal conflict may have led to the shootings”.
They said that bullet casings found at the site of the shooting of two Pakistanis, Aftab Hussein on July 26 and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain on August 1, matched a gun at Syed’s residence and they filed charges against him.
Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina said police were working with prosecutors on “potential charges” in the other two cases — Mohammad Zaheer Ahmadi, an Afghan who was killed in November, and Naeem Hussain, a Pakistani, on August 5.
The police said that as detectives prepared to search Syed’s home, he drove out in a Volkswagen Jetta that was used in at least one of the killings.
The detectives detained Syed and searched his home and the vehicle and found more evidence that tied him to the killings, police said.
sam
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This is for Shakeel Syed of South Asian Network. I wonder if you will boycott Shiyas because you may be a Sunni. Your judgement about not celebrating our independence is same as Muslims killing Muslims
August 10, 2022Mytwocents
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Well said. Shakeel Sayed of South Asian Network will now cover himself under a burqa. He can’t comment anything about his community, for fear that he will meet the same fate. In the meantime few more Hindus are beheaded in India by Muslims. Shakeel Sayed now has reason not to celebrate American Independence Day. Maybe an Islamic country will be a good place to settle if
August 10, 2022India and US the best democracies don’t suit.
Ram Sanatani
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Shakeel Syed of South Asian Network, Artesia, CA should take a sabbatical in Afghanistan. May be he will realize how lucky he has been to be brought up in India. Instead of throwing victim cards, such people should consider educating their own community to not commit hate crimes in the name of religion.
August 10, 2022SAM
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I believe Shakeel Syed should step down from South Asian Network being that Bharat is also in South Asia. Maybe he should form another group called PAN or TAN. (PAKI ASIAN NETWORK OR TURKEY ASISN/EUROPEAN NETWORK)
August 11, 2022Sahani Arish
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Human killing Human can not be justified .
August 12, 2022But human killing humans is going on since ages .
Can we stop it .