Prosecutors in the state of New Jersey have announced that a mosque Imam has died after being shot early Wednesday morning outside a mosque in Newark, New Jersey, which is in close proximity to New York state. Authorities have not yet identified any suspects or the motive behind the attack.
Imam Hasan Sharif was rushed to University Hospital in critical condition after being shot before dawn prayers outside the mosque and later succumbed to his injuries, according to an official familiar with the investigation.
Police officers quickly responded to the scene, finding the Imam lying in the parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds approximately 10 feet from the mosque's entrance. Sharif sustained gunshot injuries to his abdomen and left arm.
A security source stated that investigators are now intensively examining security cameras and neighboring street cameras to determine if they can identify the assailant. As often happens, some of the cameras were not functioning, but investigators believe they may have found at least one angle that shows a person entering the parking lot and then fleeing.
Infographic on the pandemic of armed violence in the United States (Al Jazeera)
Imam Hasan Sharif was a well-known figure in Newark, often appearing with city leaders and participating in numerous city council meetings. Imam Sharif also worked as a security officer at Newark Liberty International Airport since 2006. The airport expressed in a statement, "We are deeply saddened to learn of his passing and send our condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues."
Investigators currently have no details on the motive for the crime while the investigation into the shooting incident continues.
The police closed off the area where the mosque is located (Anadolu Agency)
Hate Crimes
Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore Stephens stated that "there are no indications at this time that the crime was motivated by hate." A number of officials echoed the same message at a press conference, saying they found nothing to indicate that the shooting was driven by hate or domestic terrorism.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka commented, "We don't yet know all of the details, but what we know is that Imam Hasan Sharif stood with the people of this city, and we will stand with him and his family."
The police have announced a reward of $25,000 for anyone providing significant information about the shooting incident.
The incident comes at a time when hate crimes against Arabs and Muslims have seen a significant increase since October 7, coinciding with the Israeli offensive on Gaza and associated large-scale demonstrations against the American stance in support of the aggression.
Some of the notable incidents include the murder of the child Wadi' al-Fayumi, who was stabbed to death by a property owner where his family lived, in what is suspected as a hate crime, and the shooting of three Palestinian university students in Vermont, resulting in one of them being paralyzed.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations reports a 162% increase in hate crimes against Arabs and Muslims since October 7.
The White House announced in early November that it would develop a national strategy to combat Islamophobia at a time when President Joe Biden's support among American Muslims is declining due to his backing of Israel's war on Gaza.
