Religion

Elmont Muslims react to murder of imam

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The shooting death of a Queens imam and his associate as they walked home from afternoon prayer on Aug. 13 in Ozone Park has left Long Island Muslims grief-stricken. While some leaders of local mosques fear that the incident — which activist groups say should be investigated as a hate crime — could lead to more violence against Muslims, they noted that they would continue to work with the Nassau County Police Department to keep their congregants safe.

According to court documents, Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said that Imam Maulana Akonjee, 55, and his associate Thara Uddin, 64, were walking home from the Al-Furqan Jame Masjid mosque, on Glenmore Avenue in Ozone Park, at around 2 p.m. on Aug. 13 when Oscar Morel, a 35-year-old Brooklynite, came up behind the two men at the intersection of 79th Street and Liberty Avenue and fired multiple rounds — including a shot to the head of both victims. The two men were transported to a local hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

Morel was charged with one count of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole. The New York Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations urged the New York Police Department and the district attorney to continue the investigation into a possible hate motive.


The shooting had a significant impact on Elmont resident Ali Mirza. The former Democratic candidate for the 5th Congressional District seat met Akonjee at an event in Jamaica in June.

“He was a polite, humble guy,” Mirza said. “We exchanged greetings and he wished me good luck [on the campaign].” Mirza eventually lost in the primary to the incumbent, U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks.

“My first reaction was of shock, grief, fear and anxiety,” Mirza said of learning about Akonjee’s death. 

Living as a Muslim in America

The murders have amplified growing tension between Muslims and the communities they live in. Political speech from various leaders, most notably Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has heightened anxieties for many in the Arab community, Mirza said.


“This is not the first incident where Muslim-Americans have been the victims, and I’m afraid it will not be the last,” he said. “People are anxious, and they’re feeling insecure. All those feelings came back to me right away.”

To combat the increased tension, Mirza said, many parishioners have ceased wearing traditional dress when frequenting local mosques. Mirza attends both Elmont mosques, Muhammadi Masjid and Jamia Zia Ul Quran.
Dressing in Muslim attire can bring unwanted attention — or worse — according to Qari Usman, a leader at Jamia Zia Ul Quran. At the time of his death, Akonjee was wearing traditional clothing.

Despite these fears, Usman said, he still believes Long Island is the safest place for Muslim-Americans to practice their faith. “We have freedom of religion here, we have no problem with our government or from the police,” he said. “They provide us with all types of security and assurance that everybody is important to this community.”

Keeping congregants safe

Isma Chaudhry, the president of the county’s largest mosque — the Islamic Center of Long Island, in Westbury — said the commanding officers of the Nassau County Police Department’s Community Affairs Division contacted her the day of the killings. She also heard from elected officials and clergy from across the county, and said that the outreach was reassuring in a distressing time. 

One of the officers Chaudhry praised as a conduit between police and religious groups was Detective Sgt. Shevy Berkovitz. He explained that the Community Affairs Division is responsible for facilitating an open dialogue with residents of all faiths and ethnic backgrounds so they know the police are ready, willing and able to address their concerns.

Berkovitz said that officers meet with Muslim leaders once during Ramadan and “as need arises.” On Aug. 15, for instance, following up on a request by Valley Stream resident Malik Abid, police met with the International Human Rights Commission in West Hempstead to discuss local Muslims’ security concerns and answer questions they had about bias crimes in the county.

The last anti-Muslim incident the NCPD has on record, Berkovitz said, was a harassment case on July 23, for which the investigation is continuing. Chaudhry said that in recent years, her congregants and the mosque itself have been victims of vandalism, property damage and threats — but not violence.

Berkovitz said that for police, the greatest challenge in dealing with anti-Muslim incidents is residents being afraid to report them. “As cliché as it sounds, if they see something, they should say something,” he said. “There is nothing we can do unless the community does their part and calls us.”

In addition to continuing community outreach, Berkovitz said, NCPD leaders would like to see more Muslims join its ranks. He and his colleagues have given presentations at career fairs at the Islamic Center of Long Island to encourage local Muslims to consider becoming police officers.

Chaudhry and Karim Mozawalla — a trustee at Masjid Hamza Islamic Center of South Shore, in Valley Stream — said that to combat anti-Islam sentiment in the community, their congregations do as much of their own outreach as possible. Chaudhry explained that interfaith programs encourage respect of different points of view, and Mozawalla noted that the more community members get to know their Muslim neighbors, “the more they understand our side and our plight — that’s how we change our culture.”

Mozawalla attended the Aug. 15 funeral for the slain Queens faith leaders with 10 of his friends. He said it was a very sad experience, and added that speakers stressed that Muslims are an integral part of American society.

In spite of the killings and his fears that, at any moment, he may be perceived as a threat because of his appearance, Mozawalla said he remains optimistic. “I choose hope over fear,” he said.

Comments about Muslim relations on Long Island? Email letters to the editor to ssmirti@liherald.com.

Nick Ciccone and Julie Mansmann contributed to this story.