A British-Pakistani Ahmedi shopkeeper in Glasgow succumbed to his wounds after being stabbed by a fellow Muslim on Thursday for posting social media messages wishing his customers a happy Easter.
Asad Shah, 40, was stabbed 30 times by a Muslim man wearing a long religious robe, according to Daily Mail. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital after being found seriously injured in Minard Road, Shawlands.
Upcoming special event ;- GOOD FRIDAY AND VERY HAPPY EASTER ESPECIALLY TO MY BELOVED CHRISTIAN NATION X !…
Posted by Asad Shah on Thursday, March 24, 2016
“Good Friday and very happy Easter, especially to my beloved Christian nation x!” the 40-year-old had posted from an account that appears to be his.
A 32-year-old Muslim man suspected of being behind the attack has been arrested. The police are treating it as a “religiously prejudiced” attack.
Tributes poured in for Shah, with flowers being placed at the scene as people took part in a silent vigil in memory of the shopkeeper.
Residents expressed shock and sadness at Shah’s death, describing him as a ‘gentleman’. Brothers Qaiser and Omar Khan said they knew Shah well and had repaired his cars in the past. They described him as “a humble, sweet person.”
“I’ve known him since I was a wee boy so this is shocking news. He was a very straight-forward, humble person who was very good with his customers. He cared about his family a lot,” Omar said.
Another local, Isabella Graham, 64, said Shah employed her daughter at the shop when she was younger. “He was an amazing, wonderful man; he couldn’t do enough for you. He wouldn’t hurt anybody. Nobody in Shawlands would have a bad word to say about him. I can’t believe he’s gone.”
Several people from all faiths took to Twitter to pay tribute to Shah using the hashtag #thisisnotwhoweare
Big memorial to Asad Shah, who was brutally murdered on my street yesterday, with the hashtag #thisisnotwhoweare pic.twitter.com/7nDoyq2QBy
— Naomi O Kelly (@_nokelly) March 25, 2016
Glasgow mourns brutal #AsadShah murder #thisisnotwhoweare We stand together 4 peace, unity + respect #noplaceforhate pic.twitter.com/0yctqu32Yf
— J Brown (@unido_en_lucha) March 25, 2016