Washington, DC — Last Friday, 25-year-old Naeem Hussain was found dead by police in Albuquerque, NM. Hussain is the third Muslim man who has been found dead in the area in three weeks—and the fourth since last November. Also, at least three of the four killed were Shia Muslims and these killings happened as Shias are preparing to commemorate Ashura.

The following is a statement from Muslim Advocates Senior Policy Counsel Sumayyah Waheed:

“We are heartbroken and deeply alarmed over the killings of four Muslim men in the Albuquerque region. Our hearts go out to the victims’ families and also to Muslim communities in Albuquerque. No one should have to experience chilling loss like this or live under the kind of fear that these killings have wrought. We are glad that local, state and federal law enforcement are investigating this matter and we strongly urge them to thoroughly look into whether these killings were motivated by anti-Muslim or anti-Shia hate. We also appreciate the strong words condemning hate from public figures like Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and President Joe Biden.

To be a Muslim in America is to live every day being all too aware of threats and violence that constantly target us and people like us. It’s important to note that Naeem Hussain was found dead 10 years to the day after a gunman murdered six people at a Sikh gurdwara in Oak Creek, WI. Anti-Muslim hate and hate against marginalized communities continues to persist on our streets, in the media—even in Congress. We call on all public figures to condemn and reject this hate and we remember and honor the lives of Mohammad Ahmadi, Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, Aftab Hussein and Naeem Hussain.”

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Muslim Advocates is a national civil rights organization working in the courts, in the halls of power and in communities to halt bigotry in its tracks. We ensure that American Muslims have a seat at the table with expert representation so that all Americans may live free from hate and discrimination.