An American imam was killed by gunfire outside his mosque in New Jersey
An American mosque imam was killed on Wednesday by several bullets that hit him in front of his mosque in Newark, according to what was announced by the authorities of the state of New Jersey, neighboring New York, who have ruled out, for the time being, any racial motives for the crime.
Hassan Al-Sharif, imam of the Newark Mosque in New Jersey (Getty)
Matt Platkin, the Attorney General for the State of New Jersey, said that the dead man was called Hassan Sharif, and he was hit by several bullets at dawn on Wednesday, after which he was taken to the hospital, where he died a few hours later from his wounds.
He added: “We do not yet know the motive behind this crime, but the evidence collected so far does not indicate that what happened was an act motivated by bias or an act of domestic terrorism.”
He continued: “In light of global events, and with the increase in prejudice experienced by a number of communities throughout our state – especially the Muslim community – many in New Jersey are now experiencing an increasing sense of fear.”
Members of the Muslim community stand near the Muhammad Mosque in Newark after the shooting of Imam Hassan Sharif in Newark, New Jersey (Reuters)
The Attorney General explained that the number of American Muslims in the state of New Jersey is 300,000.
Since the war broke out between Israel and Hamas, anti-Islamic and anti-Semitic attacks have increased throughout the United States.
In turn, Ted Stevens, Essex County Prosecutor, said that the imam of the mosque was hit by more than one bullet.
He added: “It does not appear that the imam was the victim of a bias crime, or that the matter is related to terrorism.”
He continued: “We are committed to achieving justice for the Imam’s family,” describing what happened as a “treacherous crime.”
For its part, the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that the dead man had worked as a security auditor at Newark Airport since 2006.
Newark police officers stand guard outside the Muhammad Muhammad Mosque in Newark after the shooting of Imam Hassan Sharif in Newark, New Jersey (Reuters)
“We were deeply saddened to learn of his death, and we send our condolences to his family, friends and colleagues,” said department spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein.
The attack occurred in front of the Muhammad Mosque in Newark. Where the dead man was leading the worshipers.
Photos published by the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, known as CAIR, showed police cars deployed outside the two-story yellow and green mosque.
Later, CAIR’s New Jersey branch organized a rally in front of the Newark Mosque; “To demand that those who shot Hassan Sharif surrender themselves” to the authorities.
CAIR advised “all mosques to keep their doors open, but with caution, given the recent increase in intolerance and sectarianism against Muslims.”
Two public prosecutors in the US state of New Jersey said that a mosque imam died after being shot outside a mosque in Newark, early Wednesday morning, and authorities have not yet identified the suspect or motive behind the attack.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in an afternoon press conference that there was no indication that the shooting was a bias-motivated crime or an act of domestic terrorism, according to the evidence collected so far in the investigation.
Platkin’s office does not usually disclose this type of information at such an early stage, but he said that it is working in light of the recent escalation of incidents of bias against various religions, especially the Islamic community.
Anti-Semitic incidents linked to Islamophobia have escalated across the United States since the attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas on October 7, which responded with violent bombing and a ground attack on the Gaza Strip.
As a result, in December, the US Department of Homeland Security issued security guidance for religious communities.
The Ministry’s recommendations included developing a security plan, assigning responsibility for security to an individual or committee, completing a risk assessment, coordinating with the local community, and identifying available resources.
Platkin said that since October 7, authorities have increased the presence of law enforcement forces at all places of worship in New Jersey, especially mosques and synagogues.
Fritz Farage, New Jersey’s director of public safety, echoed Platkin and Stevens’ statements that there is still no indication that the shooter was motivated by bias, but he said investigators are following “all leads” as they investigate the incident.
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2024-01-04 16:32:39
