Hate speech-incited violence blamed for Muslim murders / 紐約清真寺旁 穆斯林教長當街遭槍擊身亡　　　　　　　　　　

On Aug. 13 in New York, a Muslim cleric and his associate were shot dead by a gunman. They were walking together following afternoon prayers at a mosque in the New York City borough of Queens. Some are blaming Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's normalization of hate speech against Muslims. Imam Maulama Akonjee, 55, and his associate, Thara Uddin, 64 were both shot in the head at close range by a man who approached them from behind in the Ozone Park neighborhood. The motive for the shooting was not immediately known and no evidence has been uncovered that the two men were targeted because of their faith. Both men were wearing religious garb at the time of shooting. The men were taken to hospital where they died. The suspect was seen by witnesses fleeing the scene with a gun in his hand. There has been no arrest yet. ==HENRY SAUTNER Dep. Insp. New York City Police Dept.== We are currently conducting an extensive canvass of the area for video and additional witnesses. Akonjee was described as a peaceful man who was beloved within Ozone Park's large Muslim community. In June, CAIR issued a statement calling for Muslim community leaders to consider increasing security after the incidents that it said had targeted Muslims and Islamic houses of worship. Muslim leaders criticized Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's normalization of hate speech against Muslims for the murders. ==ZEAD RAMADAN Pres. Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR) NY== We live in an era, where people running for the highest office in the land and possibly potentially being the most powerful people in the world is spouting hate towards Muslims even in their own country, even citizens of their own country. And that is unacceptable, and a lot of times people in the public do not know how to interpret those words and they just assume that all Muslims are his targets and therefore they target common Muslims walking down the street. And this sort of Islamophobia and this hatred towards Muslims is now mushrooming. ==DR. DEBBIE ALMONTASER President, Muslim Community Network== I am deeply sadden to say that a lot of what's behind this crime and other hate crimes that have happened to American Muslims is the anti-Muslim rhetoric that continues day in and day out within the media. And at the hands of presidential candidates who are basically using anti-Muslim rhetoric for their own political gains. TRANSLATED BY：CLARE LEAR