Mr. Syed was visibly angry, said Mr. Hadi, and approached store in face threaten family on three separate cases. Mr. Syed call brothers “kafirs”. A word meant to be pejorative refers to unbelievers who understand religion, but prefer to hide from it. Popularized in Saudi Arabia vilifies Shia Muslims term later taken over by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
“When we told him to leave, he just go to him car and sit in parking lot waiting for us for hoursMr Hadi said. “We called the police, but they never showed up. up”.
The police said they didn’t have record of any such calls for help. But in February 2020 Islamic Center CCTV footage. of New Mexico showed how Mr. Syed cuts tires of in car Mr Hadi’s wife parked outside mosque there. Leaders of the mosque told Mr. Syed to stay away and he did so for months.
Mr. Syed is now indicted of murder in killings of Aftab Hussain and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, as well as the police, said they were still collecting their files. on two other murders. Leaders of Afghan community said they were glad the suspect had been identified, but some did not want to attribute the killings to sectarian violence; the reasons for murder they found out decades later of wars, often too complicated to match simple labels.
Salim Anseri, leader of in the cityAfghan community who knew Mr. Syed, as well as all the victims, one of those who not ready to judge. “Perhaps he is mentally ill or had personal problems. with victims,” he said. of Mr Syed. “As far as I can tell, it was personal issues.”
For Mr. Hadi, such differences do not matter much. Between attacks of tears, he said he still has problems with back to the place where his brother’s life ended so suddenly.
“I still see him every day when I come to workMr Hadi said. “But he dead. Nothing will bring him back”.
Susan S. Beachy as well as Kitty Bennett contributed research.
