Muslim individual killed in Glasgow by another Muslim for wishing Christian shoppers a Happy Easter.
In the heart of Glasgow, a tragic event unfolded in April 2016. Asad Shah, a local shopkeeper, was brutally murdered. The perpetrator, Tanveer Ahmed, a Sunni Muslim who is currently in custody, stabbed Shah 30 times and then stomped on his head, a horrific act that took place as Shah was dying.
Asad Shah was a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, a religious group that originated in Punjab, Pakistan in the 19th century from the teachings of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. The Ahmadis, including Shah, are often victims of violence in Pakistan and face persecution for their beliefs.
The murder occurred after Shah posted a message on his Google+ account wishing Christians a Happy Easter. The message, which did not contain any blasphemous content, seems to have provoked Ahmed, who was reportedly associated with a certain Islamic sect that targets those who express compassion towards other faiths, especially Christians.
Radical Islamists, it appears, are not only hostile towards non-Muslims but also towards those Muslims who dare to express brotherhood or compassion towards other faiths. This sentiment was echoed by an unspecified source in The Independent who stated, "An alarmingly large number of Muslims who call for tolerance for their own beliefs seem unwilling to afford that tolerance to other minorities."
The Christian religion, often seen as a "Western" religion, also has its roots in Judaea, modern-day Israel. The tragic murder of Asad Shah serves as a stark reminder of the importance of religious tolerance and the dangers of intolerance and violence.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community continues to face persecution and violence, not just in Pakistan but also in other parts of the world. It is hoped that the memory of Asad Shah will inspire greater understanding and tolerance among all communities, and that such tragic events will become a thing of the past.
