IN a highly unusual statement, the man accused of killing Asad Shah has claimed there would have been “more killing and violence in the world” if the shopkeeper had not been killed.
Tanveer Ahmed made no plea when he was charged with Shah’s murder at court in Glasgow.
Though he admits to killing the Glasgow shopkeeper in the statement, he will still face due process.
The 32-year-old taxi driver from Bradford said Shah’s death outside his shop two weeks ago was because he disrespected the Prophet Muhammad.
Ahmed’s lawyer, John Rafferty released the statement after the accused’s second appearance at court before sheriff Brian Adair.
The statement reads: “My client Mr Tanveer Ahmed has specifically instructed me that today, 6 April 2016, to issue this statement to the press, the statement is in the words of my client.
“This all happened for one reason and no other issues and no other intentions.
“Asad Shah disrespected the messenger of Islam the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. Mr Shah claimed to be a Prophet.
“When 1,400 years ago the Prophet of Islam Muhammad peace be upon him has clearly said that ‘I am the final messenger of Allah there is no more profits[sic] or messengers from God Allah after me.
‘I am leaving you the final Quran. There is no changes. It is the final book of Allah and this is the final completion of Islam’.
‘There is no more changes to it and no one has the right to claim to be a Prophet or to change the Quran or change Islam.’
“It is mentioned in the Quran that there is no doubt in this book no one has the right to disrespect the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him and no one has the right to disrespect the Prophet of Islam Muhammad Peace be upon him.
“If I had not done this others would and there would have been more killing and violence in the world.
“I wish to make it clear that the incident was nothing at all to do with Christianity or any other religious beliefs even although [sic] I am a follower of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him I also love and respect Jesus Christ.”
Shah was found outside his shop on Minard Road in the Shawlands area of Glasgow with serious head injuries.
The killing shocked the multicultural community in the city’s south side. Hundreds of distraught customers and neighbours, including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, gathered outside Shah’s Newsagent and Convenience Store the next day in vigil. Donations to a crowdfunding website have raised more than £110,000 for Shah’s family.
Shah was killed hours after posting a message on his Facebook page: “Good Friday and a very happy Easter, especially to my beloved Christian nation.”
The shopkeeper, who moved to Glasgow from Pakistan 20 years ago, was an Ahmadiyya Muslim, a community ostracised by orthodox Muslims for their belief that Muhammad was not the last Prophet.
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