Newark Imam Slain Outside Mosque to be Laid to Rest on Saturday

IQNA – Funeral arrangements have been announced for Imam Hassan Sharif, who tragically lost his life in a fatal shooting outside Masjid Muhammad-Newark on Wednesday morning.

Family, friends, and community members will convene at the Nia Masjid and Community Center this Saturday morning to pay tribute to the revered leader.

A post on the mosque's official Facebook page has disclosed that the funeral service will take place at the Restland Memorial Park in East Hanover.

In an effort to cover funeral expenses and provide support to Imam Sharif's grieving family, an online fundraiser has been initiated. Remarkably, the fundraiser has already garnered over $140,000 in contributions.

Authorities are actively pursuing the perpetrator responsible for the killing. Investigations are ongoing to discern the circumstances leading up to the tragic incident, with the motive behind the shooting still unclear.

Sharif, the mosque's prayer leader, was shot multiple times just before the dawn prayer on Wednesday. Despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries at a hospital hours later.

Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II addressed the public at a Wednesday news conference, asserting, "It does not appear that the Imam was a victim of a biased crime or that this is related to terrorism."

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin concurred, emphasizing that while evidence thus far doesn't suggest bias, the motive behind the shooting remains unknown.

The tragedy unfolds against a backdrop of escalating threats, violence, and hate speech targeting Muslim Americans, particularly since the commencement of the Israel-Hamas war in October. This surge in incidents has placed the Muslim community on high alert.

To incentivize information sharing, rewards totaling at least $35,000 are being offered for details leading to the identification and apprehension of the assailant. CrimeStoppers, in collaboration with the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, has pledged a $25,000 reward.

In a show of solidarity, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and its New Jersey chapter have also offered a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of Imam Sharif's killer.

Nihad Awad, CAIR’s national executive director, expressed concern over the recent surge in anti-Muslim bigotry and violence, stating, "Due to the unprecedented spike in anti-Muslim bigotry and violence we have witnessed in recent weeks, local, state, and national law enforcement authorities must thoroughly investigate the shooting of Imam Hassan Sharif and keep the Muslim community safe."

Source: Agencies