Washington, DC – The Interfaith Immigration Coalition (IIC) joins their partner, Jews and Muslims and Allies Acting Together (JAMAAT), in lamenting the recent murders of three Muslim men in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in a span of just 10 days. Those killed were Aftab Hussein, Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, and Nayeem Hossain, who had just become a U.S. citizen. The three were murdered after another Albuquerque Muslim man, Mohammad Ahmadi, was killed in November 2021.
As a coalition of organizations from a diverse array of religious traditions, the IIC grieves and condemns these senseless killings and calls on the nation to remember our shared humanity and spiritual instincts, and to treat one another with love and compassion—regardless of our differences.
“JAMAAT is horrified by the savage murders of four innocent American Muslims in Albuquerque. It is imperative that Jews, Christians, and Americans of conscience of all faiths and no faiths speak out in defense of our Muslim brothers and sisters and denounce these vile murders in the strongest terms,” said Walter Ruby, President of JAMAAT. “Standing together, Muslims, Jews, and allies must redouble our efforts to defend core American values like pluralism, diversity, and religious liberty for all. An attack on any of us is an attack on all of us.”
“It is not hard to see that the murders of these beloved community members were driven by hate,” said Katie Adams, Interim Chair of the IIC and Domestic Policy Advocate for the United Church of Christ. “Actions such as these must be condemned in the strongest possible terms—especially by faith communities that are allies with their Muslim siblings. One of the many values that is shared across faith traditions is that of being welcoming and loving to others—particularly those we do not yet know. The Qur’an directs people to “do good to… neighbors who are strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer that you meet” (4:36). The Torah says, “The strangers who sojourn with you shall be to you as the natives among you, and you shall love them as yourself” (Leviticus 19:33-34). And in the Christian Bible, Jesus commands people to welcome the stranger, for “what you do to the least of my brethren, you do unto me” (Matthew 25:40). Remaining faithful to these core tenets of our faith traditions, we lament alongside our Muslim siblings and recommit to uplifting and protecting our neighbor’s good.”
The Interfaith Immigration Coalition is made up of over 55 national, faith-based organizations brought together across many theological traditions with a common call to seek just policies that lift up the God-given dignity of every individual. In partnership, we work to protect the rights, dignity, and safety of all refugees and migrants. Follow us on Twitter @interfaithimm
###