A TRAGIC GOODBYE TO ‘KIND’ ABDULLAH
FAMILY SAY THEY WILL FIGHT FOR JUSTICE AT 20-YEAR-OLD’S FUNERAL
IT was a difficult day as many said their goodbyes to Abdullah Balouchi, who touched the hearts of many in our community.
Yesterday afternoon, mourners gathered in the street ahead of a funeral procession for 20-year-old stabbing victim Abdullah in order to pay their respects.
While the funeral car waited outside Hull Mosque and Islamic Centre, families with young children and prams gathered close by to the mosque. More mourners wearing face masks gathered near the door and prayer could be heard coming from inside the mosque.
Young men then gathered in the grounds of the mosque, turning their backs.
Everything fell to “complete silence” as people from all walks of the community could be seen standing on the street.
“Our dear Abdullah - something that can benefit him is the act of charity that he has done,” a public address system said.
“Those that knew Abdullah know how kind and charitable he was.
“Any good knowledge that he passed on - he will receive the reward for this good knowledge.
“There are many y family y and friends here that remember the good words Abdullah will have given them in public or private and this will continue to benefit him.”
Abdullah’s father, Farouk Balouchi, also gave g words ahead of the procession. p
“The family would like to thank everyone who has come to join us at this time and people who are not able to be with us inside the mosque, but are outside and will see him go g by,” he said.
“In normal circumstances in a funeral, a relative is required to ask the people gathered if there is anything Abdullah owed them. If that is the case, that person should come c to me.
“I want the people who did this to my son t to know that justice will be done and I will not rest until every one of them is found and justice is done.”
A prayer was called out in Arabic and, as a part of the ceremony, those stood in the mosque grounds with their backs turned held their palms to the sky.
A silence hung in the air as the crowd waited w for Abdullah to be carried out of the mosque. m
Some in the crowd could be seen crying i and hugging as they said their final goodbyes g to Abdullah.
The procession was then led by t the funeral director with members of Abdullah’s friends and family walking behind. Abdullah’s father could also be seen at the front of the procession.
Cars drove behind with others walking along Peel Street as the procession moved on.
“Son” was written in flowers in the back of the coffin, which was covered in white and yellow flowers and traffic could be seen slowing and stopping in respect.
Following the procession, Abdullah was taken to the funeral ground to be laid to rest in a private ceremony.
The walking procession had passed the scene where Abdullah was brutally stabbed to death, where floral tributes still remain.
The car had then driven down Peel Street and on to Spring Bank for people to stand outside and pay their respects.
The 20-year-old, a boxing fan with aspirations to attend university, was killed in a brutal stabbing in Peel Street, off Spring Bank, on the evening of Wednesday, October 7.
Abdullah’s death is being treated as a murder investigation, with a number of leads being pursued by detectives and arrests being made.
Now that postmortems have been completed, Abdullah could finally be laid to rest.