New Jersey imam fatally shot outside mosque as shooter remains at large

Islamic Monitor — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 13:02:49 +0000

A New Jersey imam was shot and killed on Wednesday, 3 January 2024 outside a mosque in the state’s largest city, authorities said as officers worked to identify and arrest the shooter.

Newark Police Officers stand guard outside the Masjid Muhammad-Newark mosque following the shooting of Imam Hassan Sharif in Newark, New Jersey, U.S.

The cleric, Imam Hassan Sharif, was shot after 6am outside the Masjid-Muhammad-Newark mosque, Newark’s public safety director, Fritz Fragé, said in an emailed statement. Sharif was taken to nearby University hospital and was in critical condition, authorities said. He later succumbed to his injuries.

Crowds gathered for the funeral service for Imam Hassan Sharif, who was shot to death outside a Newark mosque on Wednesday. The service was held at the NIA Masjid & Community Center in Newark, NJ.

Hours later, police had no one in custody. It is unclear what led to the violence and if the imam was targeted. Fragé said the shooting was under investigation and no other information was available.

A message seeking more information was left with the mosque.

Tanasia Ransom thanked the public for their support after her father, Imam Hassan Sharif, was shot and killed. She spoke outside funeral for her father at NIA Masjid in Newark on Jan. 6, 2024.

The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, said it was gathering information and urged people to contact local police.

“We are deeply concerned about this incident and pray for the speedy recovery of the imam,” a CAIR-NJ spokesperson, Dina Sayedahmed, said in a statement.

Source: The Guardian

Tragic Incident – Islamic Research and Information Center (IRIC)

New Jersey imam fatally shot outside mosque as shooter remains at large