SAAVOICE CONDEMNS THE TARGETED SHOOTING OF MUSLIM IMAM AND HIS ASSISTANT IN OZONE PARK, QUEENS, NY AND STANDS WITH THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY

UsaNewsOnline.Com, New York, 14 August : Today, SAAVOICE, a South Asian civic organization dedicated to the advancement of the South Asian community, condemned the vicious attack on two Muslim leaders in Ozone Park, Queens. Full statement below:

“We are saddened and horrified at the cruel, inhumane, and targeted shooting of a Muslim Imam and his assistant in the Ozone Park area of Queens by a lone gunman.  We stand with the Muslim community and offer our condolences and prayers for the victims and families of this depraved violence.

The victims were shot cold-blood from behind in broad daylight as they were leaving a nearby mosque and wearing traditional religious garb.  At this point, the motive for the shooting has not been identified.  We urge that the community remains calm, allows the NYPD and other agencies to thoroughly investigate the facts, and cooperates with all levels of agencies to bring justice to the families of the victims.

We are with you, and will remain so in these dark hours. We also urge all mosques and other temples to be vigilant, continue with daily routines, and report any suspicious individuals and incidents that may be occurring on your premises and to your congregants.

Anyone with information on the Ozone Park shooting, please call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at http://www.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.” Press Release.