Imam is shot outside a mosque in Newark, N.J., officials say
NBCJAN 2 2024
New Jersey Imam Dies After Being Shot Outside Mosque
Image copyright: Spencer Platt/Getty Images News via Getty Images [2012]
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
Though authorities may claim that this fatal shooting isn't a hate crime, it seems too much of a coincidence that a New Jersey imam has been killed outside a mosque just weeks after three Palestinian students were shot in Vermont on their way to a family dinner. It's a matter of fact that Islamophobia and hate crimes against the Muslim community have soared in the US since Israel's bombardment in Gaza.
Pro-establishment narrative
It's legitimate that Muslim Americans feel concerned about their safety in the wake of a shocking incident like this one, especially as reports of threats, violence, and hate speech against them — as well as against Jewish Americans — have indeed increased since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. Yet, evidence doesn't indicate that Imam Sharif was a victim of a biased crime.