Police in New Jersey are actively searching for the assailant responsible for fatally shooting Imam Hassan Sharif outside his mosque before morning prayers.
A reward of $25,000 has been announced to aid in the arrest. While authorities find no evidence of religious hate motivating the killing, they are committed to safeguarding people of faith amid a surge in bias attacks across the U.S.
The murder of Imam Sharif has prompted an extensive law enforcement effort, with the state’s attorney general pledging support and the Essex County sheriff offering the reward.
The incident occurs against the backdrop of escalating bias incidents against Muslims and Jews following terror attacks in the Middle East.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations recorded over 2,000 bias incidents against U.S. Muslims in the first two months since the Mideast attacks, a significant increase from the previous year. CAIR advises mosques to remain cautious despite keeping their doors open due to the recent spike in anti-Muslim bigotry.
Although there is no evidence confirming a hate crime in Imam Sharif’s killing, Attorney General Matt Platkin emphasized the global context and assured residents of efforts to ensure the safety of Muslim communities.
Sharif, a resident imam for five years, was actively involved in the interfaith community and contributed to the mosque serving as a safe house.
In a video statement, the mosque expressed condolences, describing Sharif as a brother, friend, father, and husband. Sharif’s death adds to a series of recent killings of religious leaders or incidents at houses of worship, where officials ruled out bias connections in some cases, such as the synagogue leader’s killing in Detroit and the mosque-related death in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania.
