Imam dies after shooting outside Newark mosque
A New Jersey imam has died after he was shot outside a Newark mosque on Wednesday morning.
The shooting occurred near Masjid Muhammad-Newark at the corner of Camden Street and South Orange Avenue around 6:15 a.m. Where a gunman confronted the spiritual leader after morning prayers.
The victim was rushed to University Hospital in critical condition, police said. He was later identified as Imam Hassan Sharif.
At the hospital, Imam Wahy-ud Deen Shareef, convener of the Council of Imams in New Jersey, told northjersey.com that Sharif was shot twice in a parking lot and was undergoing surgery. However, he announced around 2:30 p.m. that Sharif had died from his injuries.
The imam was also attacked at gunpoint several months ago but wrestled the gun away, Shareef said. That suspect was not caught, and it’s unclear if the incidents are related, Shareef added.
It’s unknown if anyone was inside Clara Mohammad School-Newark, a K-12 Islamic school that is attached to the building, at the time of the shooting. No other injuries were reported.
The shooting comes in the wake of a significant increase in Islamophobic and antisemitic incidents in the U.S. following the resumption of conflict between Israel and Hamas.
No suspect information or motive has been released.
However, New Jersey attorney general Matthew Platkin said there were no indications the shooting was a bias crime.
“My office is in direct communication with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office as they work with the Newark Police Department to identify the person or persons responsible for this act of violence,” Platkin said in a statement. “At a time when bias incidents against members of the Muslim community are on the rise, we know that this act of gun violence will heighten fears and concerns in our state.”
“Every possible angle will, of course, be explored and every lead will be fully investigated to bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice,” Platkin said.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations—New Jersey urged the public to come forward to assist the investigation.
“We are deeply concerned about this incident and pray for the speedy recovery of the imam. Anyone with information about the shooting should immediately contact local police,” Dina Sayedahmed, communications manager at CAIR-NJ, said in a statement.
“As always, and irrespective of this specific incident, we advise all mosques to keep their doors open but remain cautious especially given the recent spike in anti-Muslim bigotry.”
Gov. Phil Murphy designated January as the state’s official Muslim Heritage Month last year.
“At a time when the Muslim community is concerned by an increase of bias incidents and crimes, I want to assure the Muslim community and people of all faiths that we will do everything in our power to keep all residents safe, especially in or near our houses of worship,” Murphy said after Wednesday’s shooting.
Sharif was also a Transportation Security Officer at Newark Liberty International Airport
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