Fear, Shock, Questions Follow The Fatal Shootings Of Four Muslim Men In Albuquerque

 

Weekend Plug-in 🔌

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(ANALYSIS) First, fear.

Then, shock.

Now, questions. Lots of questions.

The Muslim community in Albuquerque, New Mexico — and even nationwide — has dealt with a gamut of emotions since news broke this past weekend of the fatal shootings of four of their own.

“These hateful attacks have no place in America,” President Joe Biden said Sunday amid speculation the deaths might be tied to Islamophobia.

The latest in the string of killings came last Friday. The next day, Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina characterized the shootings as “disturbing” and said police had reason to believe they were related.

“We’re in fear for the safety of our children, our families,” Ahmad Assed, the president of the Islamic Center of New Mexico, said Saturday, as reported by the Wall Street Journal’s Sara Randazzo. “This is a very troubling time for all of us.”

But then Tuesday brought relief mixed with shock, as the Albuquerque Journal’s Elise Kaplan explains: Authorities charged an Afghan refugee named Muhammad Syed — a Muslim himself — in the homicides of Aftab Hussein, 41, on July 26 and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, on Aug. 1.

Also, police called the 51-year-old Syed a prime suspect in the Nov. 7 fatal shooting of Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, and the Aug. 5 fatal shooting of Naeem Hussain, 25.

A later story by Kaplan notes:

Officials estimate there are between 5,000 and 10,000 Muslims living in Albuquerque, representing various races, ethnicities and nationalities. Assed guessed about 80% are Sunni and 20% are Shiite. He said it’s common for members of both groups to visit the Islamic Center of New Mexico.

Of the four Muslim men who were killed, three were practicing Shiite Islam. Syed was a Sunni Muslim, as was Muhammad Afzaal Hussain.

At The Associated Press, Stefanie Dazio and Mariam Fam report:

Investigators received a tip from the city’s Muslim community that pointed toward Syed, who has lived in the U.S. for about five years, police said.

Police were looking into possible motives, including an unspecified “interpersonal conflict.”

When asked specifically if Syed, a Sunni Muslim, was angry that his daughter married a Shiite Muslim, Deputy Police Cmdr. Kyle Hartsock did not respond directly. He said “motives are still being explored fully to understand what they are.”

Finally, AP’s Susan Montoya Bryan details the latest:

Members of New Mexico’s Muslim community pushed Thursday for the Afghan refugee suspected of killing four Muslim men to remain behind bars pending trial — citing previous accusations of domestic violence and video surveillance that appeared to show him slashing the tires of a vehicle parked outside the local mosque.

The video from early 2020 had prompted leaders of the Islamic Center of New Mexico at the time to admonish Muhammad Syed and tell him not to return to the mosque.

The woman whose tires were slashed never went to the police and charges were never filed, said Ahmad Assed, the Islamic center’s president.

But nearly two years later, her brother-in-law became one of the victims. Muhammad Zahir Ahmadi was fatally shot last November behind the market he owned with his brother.

Stay tuned for more developments.

Power Up: The Week’s Best Reads

1. Once an evangelical church, this Alaska parish has become an Orthodox hub: This stellar story by Meagan Clark is the first piece in the five-part “Orthodox Alaska” series published this week by ReligionUnplugged.com.

The rest of the amazing package includes:

• Part 2: The Beatles, bees and Orthodoxy animated in one man's life (by Jovan Tripkovic)

• Part 3: A seminary that serves as Kodiak Island’s Arctic Willow (by Jovan Tripkovic)

• Part 4: Will Blessed Olga be the first female Orthodox saint of North America? (by Meagan Clark)

• Part 5: From Alaska to Fiji — The story of one family’s spiritual journey (by Jovan Tripkovic)

2. After the Kentucky floods, a local pastor becomes a lifeline: “Small towns are small towns,” pastor Brad Stevens tells the Washington Post’s Jessica Tezak. “When your back’s against the wall, it’s kind of like enemies become friends and all bets are off.”

At 100 Days in Appalachia, a nonprofit newsroom, Laura Harbert Allen reports that declining church membership has tested the faith-based disaster response in Appalachia.

3. 8 over 80: At 92, John Perkins still mobilizes Christian communities: This interview by Religion News Service’s Adelle M. Banks is “the first in a series of eight profiles of American religious leaders who are still making an impact after the age of 80.” The rest of the RNS staff will join Banks in producing future profiles, RNS editor-in-chief Paul O’Donnell says.

As for Banks, don’t miss her other fascinating interview this week: She talks to Tony and Lauren Dungy about “faith and family, football and race, winning and losing.”

BONUS: The Washington Times’ Mark A. Kellner talks to “Holy Troller” Sean Feucht — who has a tendency to avoid reporters’ questions — about his new book, “Bold: Moving Forward in Faith, Not Fear.”

Kudos to Kellner for landing the interview.

Inside The Godbeat: Behind The Bylines

Religion News Service’s Adelle M. Banks moderated a recent panel on “Religion Reporting — The Beat that Intersects with Everything You Cover.”

The discussion came during the joint conference of the National Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists in Las Vegas.

The all-star panel featured the Los Angeles Times’ Andrew J. Campa, The Associated Press’ Luis Andres Henao, The Oklahoman’s Carla Hinton and RNS’ Alejandra Molina.

Charging Station: In Case You Missed It

Here is where you can catch up on recent news and opinions from ReligionUnplugged.com.

• Catholic groups warn of increased church vandalism, call for more news coverage (by Clemente Lisi)

• At Lambeth, Anglican bishops cannot ‘walk together’ (by Terry Mattingly)

• Maya leader uses ancestral wisdom to heal (by Maria Martin)

• A visit to the Latter-day Saints’ ‘Wizard of Oz’ temple in Washington, D.C. (by Hamil R. Harris)

• Ministries focus on ‘last mile’ efforts to reach unreached people with God’s word (by Kim Roberts)

• New ‘The Chosen’ documentary tries to engage Gen Z with Jesus (by Joseph Holmes)

• Traditional Latin Mass feud: What will the outcome mean for the future of Catholicism? (by Clemente Lisi)

The Final Plug

Indiana resident Mark Racop is a part-time Church of Christ preacher — and the only licensed Batmobile maker.

My Christian Chronicle colleague Calvin Cockrell talked to Racop about the recent “trials and tribulations” he has faced. Hint: They involve a disgruntled customer who is friends with a California sheriff.

It’s a fascinating read.

Happy Friday, everyone! Enjoy the weekend.

Bobby Ross Jr. is a columnist for ReligionUnplugged.com and editor-in-chief of The Christian Chronicle. A former religion writer for The Associated Press and The Oklahoman, Ross has reported from all 50 states and 15 nations. He has covered religion since 1999.

 
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