N.J. imam speaks out against violence

ELIZABETH, N.J. — An imam spoke against violence and in support of law enforcement during the first Friday prayer service since an Elizabeth man was charged in last weekend’s New Jersey and New York City bombings.

Imam Syed Fakhruddin Alvi urged the more than 100 men gathered at the Muslim Community Center of Union County to be vigilant in leading their families and children away from evil.

Mosque leaders said bombing suspect Ahmad Khan Rahami, an Afghanistan-born U.S. citizen whose father is an active member of the mosque, was misguided. They said people who follow extremist teachings are criminals.

“Nobody has any right to kill any non-Muslim,” the imam said. “If anyone kills a non-Muslim citizen, paradise will be done for him.”

Mosque members said Rahami’s father frequently prays there, including last week after Rahami was injured by police in a shootout in Linden hours after he was named the suspect.