The Albuquerque, N.M. community has been rocked in recent weeks by a series of fatal attacks against Muslim immigrants. The murders of four men from Pakistan and Afghanistan have sparked fears that one or more individuals may be targeting Muslims of South Asian descent who live in the southwestern city. Even though police recently announced the arrest of a suspect, the full motivations and potential connections between the killings remain mysteries.
Four men killed in separate attacks
On Nov. 7, 62-year-old Mohammad Ahmadi was killed outside of his business. The killing of Ahmadi, originally from Afghanistan, was followed months later by the killings of three men from Pakistan. Twenty-seven-year-old Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 41-year-old Aftab Hussein and 25-year-old Naeem Hussain were all attacked and killed during a two-week span between July 26 and Aug. 4, according to Albuquerque police. While the motives behind these murders were unknown, the identity of the victims raised alarms throughout the Muslim community within Albuquerque and throughout the country.
Suspect taken into custody
Albuquerque police have announced that they have arrested a suspect, 51-year-old Muhammad Syed, in connection with the killings. The police have stated that Syed had connections to the victims and that searches of Syed’s home and belongings produced “additional evidence that further tied Syed to the murders.” So far, he has been charged with the July 26 killing of Aftab Hussein and the Aug. 1 murder of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain. He is being investigated for the other two murders.
Motivations for murders suspected to be personal
Before the arrest of Syed — who is from Afghanistan like the first victim and is himself Muslim — the killings were suspected to be hate crimes. President Joe Biden had even commented that such attacks “have no place in America.” Now, police believe that the motive for the attacks may have been personal, potentially related to Syed disapproving of his daughter marrying a man who belongs to a different Islamic sect. However, the motives and connections between the four killings are not yet clear and are being further investigated.
Hate crimes against Muslims on the rise
Despite the recent arrest of Syed in the Albuquerque case, concerns remain about anti-Muslim violence in the U.S. The American Civil Liberties Union reports that “in recent years, anti-Muslim sentiment has spiked.” Hate crimes have also increased against other South Asian minorities, such as Sikhs, as well as against Asian Americans more generally.
While questions remain in the Albuquerque killings, the recent arrest may bring some comfort to the Muslim community of Albuquerque. With Islamophobia and other forms of hatred still virulent in America, the recent developments in these cases are a small step toward helping American Muslims and other minority communities feel a bit safer.
