Final respects paid to Ali Qasemi - a good family man

Mourners turned out in force last week to pay tribute to Ali Qasemi, a pizza delivery driver. And less than a week later, two men denied killing him during a court hearing. Joel Lamy attended the funeral and the court case.

Dozens of mourners from Peterborough and across the country paid tribute to a pizza delivery driver who was killed while at work.

Ali Qasemi (45), who came to the UK from Afghanistan, was expecting his third child with his wife when he died in Addenbrooke’s Hospital after being attacked in Shrewsbury Avenue, Woodston.

But, if there was any anger in the city’s Muslim community at the manner of Mr Qasemi’s death, they put it aside to pay a respectful sendoff to a man they had nothing but positive words for.

His friend of 15 years, Ahmed Nawrazi, described him as a “good person, an honest person, a family personhelpful in the community. We miss him a lot.”

The H us ai ni Islamic Centre in Burton Street was packed on Friday with people attending to say the funeral prayer.

Mr Qasemi’s coffin was then carried out by a large group to the sounds of chanting and placed in a black van where it was taken to East field Cemetery.

The funeral service was a peaceful, dignified affair with the resident priest of the Burton Street mosque, Sheikh Shahnawaaz, saying that Mr Qasemi will be meeting his Lord.

Passage soft he Q ur an were then recited, before the coffin was lowered and men began covering it with earth.

In the midst of such a sombre day, where no words could bring joy to a grieving community, there was one small positive.

That came in the donations to Mr Qasemi’s family reaching the target amount of £3,500.

Donations on the Just Giving page, set up by a former Peterborough candidate in The Apprentice, Nurun Ahmed, was, at the last check, on £3,502- a crumb of comfort on a bleak day, but nonetheless a fabulous gesture of support.

Nurun was raising the money to help support Mr Qasemi’s widow.

Speaking shortly after she had begun fundraising, she said: “I was deeply taken back by the news, especially in hearing that Ali has left behind two young children and a pregnant wife.

“I wanted to do something to help. It had really hit me hard that they had lost their main breadwinner.”

A group of Peterborough taxi drivers in the city also raised £500 for the family by carrying out a collection.

Hackney carriage driver Parveiz Akhtar said they had been shocked by reading what had happened.

Mrs Qasemi also paid tribute to her husband shortly after his passing.

She said: “My husband was my everything; my bestfriend, my soul mate, my life partner and an amazing father.

“He was such a caring and helpful person and was always there for his family and friends.

“This is a very hard time for my family and our two children.

“We are expecting our third child and my heart aches that he won’t be here to see them all grow up.”

Scenes from the funeral