BACKGROUND

ASAD Shah’s family belong to the Ahmadi Muslim community, which believes Muhammad was not the last prophet.

That core difference has seen the sect’s followers ostracised across the Muslim world amid claims they are heretics.

Such persecution led Mr Shah and his family to move from Pakistan to Scotland in the 1990s.

Following his murder, however, the family no longer felt safe in Glasgow.

A statement released on their behalf shortly after his death said: “Asad’s family have lost a peaceful, kind and loving brother, son and uncle who can never be replaced.

“Most of his family have now left or are in the process of leaving Scotland, a country they came to seek safety in.”

The Ahmadi sect takes its name from its 19th century founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, regarded by his followers as the messiah.

The community hopes to revive what it sees as the true Islamic values of peace and humanity.

It has more than 100 branches in Britain and is believed to be active in 200 countries.

The sect claims to have 200 million followers worldwide but critics say that figure is exaggerated and that 10 million is a more realistic estimate.

Violence against Ahmadis is rife, particularly in Pakistan.

In the 1980s, Ahmadi followers there were banned from calling their places of worship “mosques”.

Prominent Ahmadis have also had their graves desecrated.

The sect was even forced to move its HQ from India to the UK.