Cross-faith tributes after religiously motivated killing
Newsagent had wished ‘beloved Christian nation’ a happy Easter before attack
A MUSLIM shopkeeper has been killed in a religiously prejudiced attack just hours after he wished his “beloved Christian nation” a happy Easter.
Asad Shah, 40, was stabbed to death at his shop in the Shawlands area of Glasgow late on Thursday night. It is understood the alleged attacker was also Muslim. A 32-year-old has been arrested and was in custody last night.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was among hundreds of people who attended a vigil in his honour as residents described Mr Shah as a “pillar of the community”. Just hours before Mr Shah died he posted an Easter message on social media, saying: “Let’s follow the real footstep of beloved holy Jesus Christ and get the real success in both worlds.” Local minister Reverend Val Duff said: “He was obviously a deeply loved man in our community.”
HUNDREDS of people attended a vigil to pay tribute to a “pillar of the community” who was stabbed to death by a fellow Muslim in a “religiously prejudiced” attack.
Asad Shah, 40, was set upon with a knife and had his head stamped on at his Glasgow newsagent’s just after 9pm on Thursday.
He died hours later in hospital, plunging his local community of Shawlands into mourning.
It is understood Mr Shah, who had only hours earlier wished his “beloved Christian nation” a Happy Easter, was attacked by another Muslim. A 32yearold has been arrested in connection with the death.
Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf were among the hundreds of people who attended last night’s vigil, organised under the banner “this is not who we are”.
The First Minister said she was paying her “personal respects” as the former constituency MSP and someone who knew Mr Shah.
Mr Yousaf, the Minister for External Affairs and International Development, described his pride at the city’s reaction to the killing. He said: “When our city is hurting the people of Glasgow wrap their arms round each other.”
Mr Shah’s father Syed spoke of his shock and revealed Mr Shah’s brother, Athar, who owns the gym neighbouring the newsagent’s on Minard Road, had seen the stabbing.
He said: “I just can’t speak, we are in shock here. I don’t know the details of what happened, I wasn’t there but my other son saw everything. He was there at the time, and he was injured too but only slightly. I’m sure you can imagine how we are all feeling.”
Hours before he died, Mr Shah had posted a message on social media wishing his “beloved Christian nation” a happy Easter.
The post said: “Good Friday and a very Happy Easter, especially to my beloved Christian nation.
“Let’s follow the real footstep of beloved holy Jesus Christ and get the real success in both worlds.”
He had previously spoken out against violence and hatred and called for “unconditional real love for all mankind”.
Hundreds of residents, politicians and shop owners yesterday paid tribute to the 40yearold “peacemaker” who went “above and beyond what a shopkeeper should [do]” for his community.
Residents launched an online collection to help Mr Shah’s family and pay for his funeral. In just seven hours, hundreds of donors raised almost £8,000 for the shopkeeper’s family, with donations flooding in from public figures, including media personality Piers Morgan.
The shopkeeper is said to have sent Christmas and Easter cards to his customers.
Sheena McClure, a regular at the shop, was in tears when she heard the news of Mr Shah’s death and laid flowers at the growing shrine.
She said: “He was such a lovely man, he was always chatting to people. I’m just devastated. I have been crying all day, and the whole community has been rocked by it.
“I don’t know why anybody would want to hurt him.”
Stewart McDonald, SNP MP for the area, visited Minard Road and paid tribute to Mr Shah.
He said: “The way in which local people have rallied round within hours – arranging a community vigil and raising money to support his family – has shown the south side’s strong spirit of solidarity at its best. The south side will be a little darker with the loss of such a friendly man who served this community for many years.”
A police spokeswoman said: “A full investigation is under way to establish the full circumstances surrounding the death, which is being treated as religiously prejudiced.”