Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Killing of Furqan Jame Mosque Imam Erupts Muslim Diaspora Rage | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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A crowd of community members gather at the place where Imam Maulama Akonjee was killed in the Queens borough of New York City, August 13, 2016. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith


Washington- A spokesperson from Queens Department in Ney York told Asharq Al-Awsat on Sunday that the police is questioning the motives behind the killing of Imam (MaulamaAkonjee) and his assistant (Thara Uddin).

Meanwhile, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) held a news conference infront of Al-Furqan Jame Mosque; one of around ten mosques located in New York.

CAIR called on New York Police to carry out quick, comprehensive and integral investigations to disclose the committer and know his motives.

“Committer should be arrested and law should be applied. We ask anyone who has information to submit it to the police”, said AfafNasher, Executive Director of the Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR) New York.

On Saturday, protests sparked near the mosque asking for justice. Protestants held posters that Islam is a tolerate religion and signs about both the Imam and his assistant who were killed after finishing their praying on Saturday.

Queens police spokesperson told Asharq Al-Awsat on Sunday that a suspect was arrested and is being questioned. Also, cameras in the mosque’s neighborhood are being probed to gather a bigger quantity of information, yet the motives of the assault has not been determined yet, according to the spokesperson.

“He would not hurt a fly,” Imam Akonjee’s nephew Rahi Majid, told the New York Daily News.

The Associated Press reported Protestants’ statements; they considered this a hate crime. “This sort of Islamophobia and this hatred toward Muslims is now mushrooming”, reported AFP. Worshipper, Millat Uddin, said to CBS New York that he felt the community had been targeted.

Yet, New York municipal member Sarah Saeed insisted on knowing the truth and achieving justice despite the prevailing sense of fear.