Mourning the Killing of Muslim Students at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
The Shia Muslim Council of Southern California is most saddened by the killing of three innocent and young American Muslims. Newlyweds Deah Barakat (23), his wife, Yusor Abu-Salha (21), and her sister, Razan Abu-Salha (19) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
All three victims were at home when they were brutally shot in the head. The senseless and shocking killing may have been motivated by their religion and this is a GREAT concern for all Americans. We urge state and federal law enforcement agencies to closely investigate whether or not religion may have played a part in this heinous crime.
The three victims were all exceptional role models in their community. Barakat was a second-year dental student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who loved basketball and football, and volunteered with a charity providing emergency dental care to children in Palestine. He was to travel to Turkey this summer to treat Syrian child refugees.
Yusor Mohammad just graduated from NC State in December with a degree in biological sciences and was to start dental school in Chapel Hill in the fall. She and Barakat were married in December 2014.
Abu-Salha loved architecture and was studying the field at North Carolina State.
Our hearts and prayers go out the families and the community of North Carolina.
IECOC will be holding a vigil for the murder victims during its Thursday Night program on Feb. 12, 2015.
View news conference of the Family: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijEL191kIrA#t=163
Donate to Barakat’s charity organization: http://www.youcaring.com/
Visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ourthreewinners
Shia Muslim Council of Southern California Officers:
- President – Imam Sayed Moustafa al-Qazwini
- Vice-President: Dr. Hasnain Walji
- Councilor: Dr. Ridha al-Hajjar
- Secretary: Hajj Khalil Dewji
- Treasurer: Hajj Mehdi Hirji
- Councilor: Sister Fatma Saleh
- Councilor: Sayed Asghar Rizvi