Families come together to remember the victims of Albuquerque's Muslim killings
Family, friends and the community came together on Tuesday to remember the victims in the recent killings of members of Albuquerque's Muslim community.
Muhammad Afzaal Hussain
Several words describe 27-year-old Muhammad Afzaal Hussain.
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury said, “Muhammad was an amazing, gentle, kind, caring, loving, excited, passionate person.”
The president of Islamic Center of New Mexico said he is a “Caring, caring young man.”
An immigrant from Pakistan, he embraced the American dream.
Hussain’s brother, Muhammad Imtiaz, said, “He loved this land. He said, this is a land of justice. This is the land where people have prosperity, where people have love, where people have laws, rules and regulation. There is justice.”
His brother remembers Hussain's work on now Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury's campaign.
“He was always ambitious to raise the voice whose voice are unheard,” Imtiaz said.
Stansbury said, “He is probably one of the most passionate and kind people I ever met.”
On Monday, Aug. 1, 2022, his life was cut short.
According to Albuquerque Police Department, his murder is related to the killings of three other members of the Muslim community.
Imtiaz agrees, saying, “It seems like this is not a random shooting. This is targeted. This is a highly motivated, violent act.”
According to Imtiaz, his brother was shot multiple times less than a block from their home.
“My kids saw he said there is a police car outside,” Imtiaz said.
With this situation, safety is a concern for everyone in the Muslim community.
Assad said, “It brings back all those memories that we are a vulnerable community.”
“I feel that if my brother is shot, someone else can be shot myself. Can be shot. I feel insecure. I feel that gun violence is real,” Imtiaz said.
He says something needs to change.
“I lost my brother. No one else should lose their sister. No one should let his mom and dad become victims of this gun violence. It must stop,” Imtiaz said.
He wants justice for his brother, as people remember him as a model citizen.
Naeem Hussain
25-year-old Naeem Hussain moved to Albuquerque six years ago.
His family remembers him as a kindhearted person who was very generous and very forgiving.
Hussain was shot and killed on August 5 in southeast Albuquerque. The news of his death came as a shock to his family members living in Virginia and Pakistan.
"We were like, you know, why Naeem?," said Ehsan Shahalami.
Hussain's brother in law says Hussain had just become a U.S. Citizen and took refuge in the United States because of religious persecution.
"The ironic part of the whole story is that he actually took refuge in this country because of religious persecution," said Shahalami.
The suspect in the case, 51-year-old Muhammad Syed, has been detained but has not yet been charged in his killing. Albuquerque Police and the Bernalillo County District Attorney are working to pursue potential charges for Syed in Hussain's death.
Aftab Hussein
Aftab Hussein was shot and killed on July 26, 2022.
Albuquerque Police say he was from Pakistan.
Mohammad Zaher Ahmadi
Mohammad Zaher Ahmadi was killed on November 7, 2021.
Police say he was from Afghanistan.