‘As my brother died his murderer just walked away and laughed...’
FAMILY OF SLAIN SHOPKEEPER BREAK SILENCE
MURDERER Tanveer Ahmed was “laughing and grinning” after brutally stabbing Asad Shah to death, his brother has said.
Athar Shah was one of the only witnesses to the attack on March 24 last year, during which he was slashed in the neck as he tried to save Asad. A shop assistant had shouted to Athar, saying his brother
THE grieving family of shopkeeper Asad Shah have refuted claims he had mental health problems before he was brutally murdered.
Speaking exclusively to the Evening Times, Asad’s brother Athar, his widow, sister, mum and dad have adamantly denied the claims by some members of the Ahmadi faith – to which Asad belonged – that the shopkeeper was ill.
Athar said the family are still living in fear 12 months after the 40-year-old’s death, while Asad’s widow Khalida has criticised his killer’s continued preaching from behind bars.
Over the last year the family have struggled with what happened to the “loving, friendly” shopkeeper, who had worked in his family newsagent on Minard Road in Shawlands for more than a decade.
Asad was brutally attacked by Tanveer Ahmed, a Sunni Muslim from Brad- ford, who drove to his shop to confront him about his religious beliefs on the evening of March 24, 2016.
The 40-year-old frequently made YouTube videos while at work discussing his religious views, among other things, with the most recent one before his death wishing Christians a happy Easter.
The attack, witnessed by Athar and a young shop worker, was deemed to be “religiously motivated” and Ahmed was sentenced to 27 years behind bars at the High Court in Glasgow last year.
For Athar, a personal trainer, the memory of his brother will never be forgotten.
The 36-year-old, who lived with Asad in Shawlands, said: “There was no evidence my brother was unwell.
“I lived with him, he was fine. For people to say he was unwell, I would ask where the proof is.
“There is no medical evidence that he was unwell and it is really hurtful for all the family to hear people say that.
“He was a very different person. He was the friendliest person that you’d ever meet in your life. He didn’t see colours – skin colours. He saw you for you, for what was inside.
“He wanted to help everyone, even the people who wanted to harm him. He was somebody who would welcome an enemy in his own house. He showed me that.”
In the days following Asad’s death, hundreds of com- munity members rallied round the family’s shop and laid bunches of flowers, candles and cards in tribute to the shopkeeper.
They held candle-lit vigils, politicians turned out to pay their respects and thousands of pounds were donated through online funding pages to support Asad’s widow, who had been with her husband for more than 10 years before his death.
Many told of how Asad had helped by giving them jobs in the shop, letting them have goods despite not having enough money, giving out cards for holidays and even visiting them when they had been ill.
This strong community response is a main reason Athar and his elderly parents chose to stay in Glasgow, where they settled after leaving Pakistan decades ago.
Athar said: “People might think if we are living here in Britain and we don’t feel safe then why are we here? The answer is because we’re not safe anywhere.
“I’ve also stayed for the community. The response we had from the community