What we know about the imam killed in Newark

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Time stood still for a moment on Wednesday as word spread that an imam, the religious leader of a mosque, was shot outside his place of worship in Newark. Shortly after he arrived at the mosque for the pre-dawn prayer, which falls at around 6 a.m. in winter, Imam Hassan Sharif was shot multiple times.

He was found in his car and passed away later that day from his injuries. Officials say it did not appear to be a bias-motivated crime.

The shooting of an imam at a tense political moment led many to worry that the acts of bigotry seen in recent weeks had come to a horrific peak, or that — even though the crime was not motivated by bias — it might spark further violence.

“If there’s any evidence that this was anything broadly speaking a hate crime, Islamophobia, anything in that lane, it is completely reprehensible, unacceptable in the state of New Jersey, and we will take whatever actions we need to take,” New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said to reporters just hours after the shooting, before Sharif had died and officials had stated that it did not appear to be a hate crime.

There have been rising tensions in New Jersey as the bloodshed in Palestine has divided communities and sparked protests across the United States. Central Desi reported a 733% increase in acts of bigotry against Muslims after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas in Israel. Reports of antisemitism are also up, with one national group reporting a 316% rise in antisemitism.

At a news conference on Thursday evening, state Attorney General Matt Platkin tried to quell fears.

“The evidence collected thus far does not indicate that this was an act motivated by bias or an act of domestic terrorism," Platkin said. "While we ordinarily do not go public with this type of information so early in our process, we know, and I know, that in light of global events, and with a rise in bias directed at many communities we're experiencing across our state, but particularly the Muslim community, there are many in New Jersey who are fearing a heightened sense of fear, or anxiety, at the news of this slaying."   

As many Muslims prepare to attend Friday prayer today, some police precincts are providing heightened security to mosques. CAIR-NJ said in a statement that it “advises all mosques to keep their doors open but remain cautious especially given the recent spike in anti-Muslim bigotry.”

Bilal Lakhani, Central Desi’s project manager, said he typically takes his parents to prayers but was reconsidering this week.

“Jummah is the highlight of their week, but my mom wears hijab and my dad has a long beard. When this happened, it gave me pause,” Lakhani said. “It just feels like the community is on edge, and I don’t want to rock the boat. It almost feels like a provocative act to go to the masjid.”

Many people have turned to imams and rabbis for guidance and leadership in this difficult moment. A few weeks ago, Rabbi David Fine of the Northern New Jersey Synagogue teamed up with his longtime friend Imam Mahmoud Hamza of the Islamic Center of Ridgewood to appear on national TV and call for love, respect, and healing.

“The killing of Imam Sharif in Newark is a tragedy that strikes us all,” Fine told Central Desi on Thursday.

There are still many outstanding questions about the shooting. Sharif had been the imam of Newark’s Masjid Muhammad, a predominantly African American mosque, for five years. He was known as a community advocate who led initiatives to feed people living on the streets and facing addiction. Some congregants referenced drug crime in the area and a previous attempted attack on Sharif when interviewed.

Ironically, Gov. Murphy released a statement around noon on Thursday celebrating a historic low in gun violence in New Jersey, citing Newark as one of the cities where shooting victims are down compared to this time last year.

Multiple awards are being offered to help solve the crime. The Essex Crime Stoppers Program is offering $25,000, and the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations is offering $10,000. An online fundraiser for Sharif’s family has raised over $120,000.

In a video posted to Masjid Muhammad’s website, a congregant shared the following message: “We will address all of the matters later, but right now, it’s on us as an ummah, as a community — we all heard it, it’s a reality what we’re facing — but the reality of it is he was a Muslim, and we have to give him his last rites.”

Ambreen Ali is the founding editor of Central Desi.

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