An imam is clinging to life after he was shot early Wednesday outside a mosque in Newark.
Hassan Sharif, the imam of the Muhammad Mosque, was preparing to perform his first daily prayer when an unknown gunman approached him and opened fire outside the mosque around 6:15 a.m., near the intersection of Camden Street and South Orange Avenue, Newark police sources told The Post.
Sharif, who was shot twice, is listed in critical condition and undergoing surgery, the source said.
Hassan Sharif, the imam of the Muhammad Mosque in Newark, was shot early Wednesday outside the Newark mosque. masjid.alimuslim.7/Facebook Police outside the Muhammad Mosque after the shooting on January 3, 2024. Matthew McDermott
The motive for the shooting remains unclear, nor is it known if any students were inside Clara Mohammad School-Newark at the time.
The incident remains under investigation by Newark police, and The Post has reached out to the department for more information.
Sharif is listed among the 2022-2023 advisory board members for the mosque’s Social Services and Health Wellness program.
Sharif was reportedly preparing to perform his first daily prayer when he was shot. Hassan Sharif/Facebook
He was also among a group of interfaith leaders who attended a climate change protest in Newark in April 2022, the Jewish Standard reported at the time.
In a statement, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said his prayers were with the seriously injured priest.
“At this point, we do not have any information about the perpetrators or the motivation behind this incident, but I know law enforcement will provide updates as appropriate,” Murphy said. “At a time when the Muslim community is concerned with increasing incidents of bias and crime, I want to assure the Muslim community and all religions that we will do everything to ensure that all residents are safe, especially in or near us. synagogue.”
He urged anyone with information about the violent crime to contact the Newark Police Department through the 24-hour hotline at 1-877-NWK-TIPS (1-877-695-8477).
Saydah Maiga, 37, who attends the Muhammed Mosque, told WNBC that Sharif had offered her support when she converted to Islam in June.
“He was there for me when I needed prayer when I first became a Muslim,” Maiga told the network. “He definitely made sure he contacted me, to help me learn my prayers so I could be the best Muslim I could be.”
Detectives arrive to investigate the scene of the shooting. Matthew McDermott
The shooting “is very scary and sad for our Muslim community because [Sharif is] a very beautiful priest who helps everyone,” he added.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
