New Mexico Islamic centers, mosques tighten security following Muslim attacks

A string of deaths of Muslim men in New Mexico has members of the community fearing for their lives, and Islamic centers have since added police patrols, locked doors or stopped meeting in person. 

From the death of the first victim in November 2021 to the most recent on Friday, four Muslim men altogether have been killed in central New Mexico: 25-year-old Naeem Hussain, 27-year-old Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 41-year-old Aftab Hussein and 62-year-old Mohammad Zaher Ahmadi.

“You don’t know where you will be,” Albuquerque Islamic Center outreach director Yahuza Siba said. “You could be back in bed. You could be in the middle of the street, at the mall, or anywhere really. Just targeted or ambushed without warning.”

Federal and local law enforcement are investigating potential religious or racial links between the deaths of these men over the nine-month period. The Albuquerque Police Department and University of New Mexico Police Department provided a virtual safety update in response to the shootings on Monday, receiving a barrage of questions from the public about how to stay safe amid the potential serial killer situation.

Lighthouse of New Mexico is a Muslim community center that has been dealing with the new dangers. Public affairs director Mariam Alabdali said many Muslims feel like they’re being watched or followed and don’t feel comfortable going to regular places like restaurants or markets anymore, or even to the mosque to worship.

“We cannot go to practice our religion in mosques,” local Muslim individual Khalid Emshadi said. “We cannot gather as Muslims.”

Lighthouse usually has an open-door policy but has doors locked now to check who is coming in and recently installed a doorbell security camera.

Similarly, the Albuquerque Islamic Center is only opening its doors around prayer times to let people in. The police are helping patrol the center, especially around prayer times, Siba said.

Emshadi said that while Muslim centers and other places of gathering are trying to enhance their security measures, they’re working with limited resources.

At Monday’s conference, Southeast Area Commander Luke Languit with the Albuquerque Police Department said officers are constantly monitoring places where Muslim community members may gather, such as mosques, centers and schools.

“Officers will be there to take care of those concerns, and we will be keeping that up until this emergency is over,” Languit said.

Law enforcement has been “working day and night to help” Muslim communities, Alabdali said. APD has been talking to Lighthouse, the Albuquerque Islamic Center and other organizations where Muslims may congregate.

Emshadi said the governor and others in charge need to do more to protect people.

“Somebody who is targeting Muslims, it’s way beyond our limits,” Emshadi said. “We need the government. We need the society. We need people who have the decision, who have the power as public elected officials to stand and save us.”

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Alabdali emphasized the importance of communication across the Muslim community in New Mexico right now.

Lighthouse has been hosting Zoom calls to communicate with members of their community since it’s dangerous to gather in person. Alabdali said she’s also in contact with all the mosques in Albuquerque to create uniform communication to Muslims in the city.

In addition, there are group chats with Muslim community members to make sure they can get in contact with law enforcement if needed and to dissolve any false rumors, Alabdali said. Emshadi also referenced communication going on between the Muslim community via social media.

After being asked how non-Muslim individuals can show solidarity for their peers at Monday’s forum, Tahir Guaba, director of public affairs for the Islamic Center of New Mexico, asked everyone to just look out for each other. 

“All we are asking right now to the broader community is just have each other’s backs,” he said.

Siba said other faiths have called the Albuquerque Islamic Center to express support, and people have been donating to support the victims’ families or adding to the reward to find the perpetrator or perpetrators.

Three of the men killed were killed within about two miles from UNM, one as close as half a mile away. The close proximity has ignited fear in international students, and officials are asking the university to respond with resources for students.

Guaba asked UNM police at the safety forum to potentially arrange special services to protect Pakistani students. He said some of those students have already left town out of concern for their safety.

Joe Silva, chief of police for the UNM Police Department, said they’re currently working with the Global Education Office as well as with the Asian American Pacific Islander Resource Center, and will take Guaba’s advice to reach out to Pakistani students too.

The Muslim Student Association is also in communication with UNM officials to get resources to Muslim students who may be vulnerable targets, such as people without means of transportation, Siba said.

Fears in the Muslim community

“Albuquerque has been a safe place for Muslims, and so I think that everybody is in shock and don’t really understand why it’s happening and why these individuals are being targeted,” Alabdali said. “I think it has shattered and broken many people’s hearts.”

There is a fear of unprovoked attacks, like those that happened to the victims, Siba said. And it’s especially risky for those who wear garments that can indicate Muslim practice.

Siba said he won’t change his routine in terms of his daily practices, but he has to be more vigilant now.

“Doing our day-to-day things, we just have to be more aware of our surroundings and it’s really put a pressure on our daily life,” Alabdali said.

Emshadi said he hasn’t been able to sleep at night because of the targeted attacks. Others agree.

“I don’t think that life will be normal again, even after this,” Alabdali said. “I think that it kind of puts things into perspective that being a different religion in ways can make you a target.”