Asad Shah, a shopkeeper from Glasgow, Scotland, was murdered Thursday, and his family now fears their lives are in danger due to their moderate Islamic beliefs.
Authorities discovered the 40-year-old Pakistani immigrant with “serious” stabbing wounds after he posted a “Happy Easter” Facebook message on Thursday, The Telegraph reports.
“Good Friday and a very Happy Easter, especially to my beloved Christian nation,” Shah wrote. “Let’s follow the real footstep of beloved holy Jesus Christ and get the real success in both worlds.”
He was rushed to nearby Queen Elizabeth University Hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival, according to The Telegraph.
Police later arrested the 32-year-old attacker on Friday. He will be charged with committing a “religiously prejudiced” crime and faces a preliminary court date Tuesday.
Shah and his family were devout practitioners of the Ahmadiayya Islamic sect, which “preaches ‘love for all, hatred for none’.”
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, they told The Telegraph that Shah had fallen “in love” with Scotland shortly after moving there in the 1990s.
“He was a calm and patient man and did not mind where people were from or what religion they were. He liked everyone,” stated Shah’s brother. “He would give people cards for Christmas and for Easter as he knew it was important to them.”
The Ahmadiayya sect has historically faced persecution from radical sects.
Several nations — including Saudi Arabia and Indonesia — have even refused to recognize the peaceful sect as a form of Islam.