Asad Shah's family release statement thanking public for support

THE family of Asad Shah have released a statement following his death on Thursday.
Shopkeeper Asad Shah was attacked on Thursday.Shopkeeper Asad Shah was attacked on Thursday.
Shopkeeper Asad Shah was attacked on Thursday.

Mr Shah, 40, was attacked outside of his shop in Minard Road, Shawlands, hours after posting an Easter message of harmony on Facebook.

In a statement given to Police Scotland, his family said:

“On Thursday evening, a beloved husband, son, brother and everyone’s friend, Asad Shah, was taken away from us by an incomprehensible act. We are devastated by this loss.

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“A person’s religion, ethnicity, race, gender or socioeconomic background never mattered to Asad. He met everyone with the utmost kindness and respect because those are just some of the many common threads that exist across every faith in our world.

“He was a brilliant man, recognising that the differences between people are vastly outweighed by our similarities. And he didn’t just talk about this, he lived it each and every day, in his beloved community of Shawlands and his country of Scotland.

“If there was to be any consolation from this needless tragedy, it came in the form of the spontaneous and deeply moving response by the good people of Shawlands, Glasgow and beyond.

“As a family, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to all who have organised and participated in the street vigils, online petitions and messages. You have moved us beyond words and helped us start healing sooner than we thought possible. You were Asad’s family as much as we are and we will always remain with you.

“One of our brightest lights has been extinguished but our love for all mankind and hope for a better world in which we can all live in peace and harmony, as so emphatically embodied by Asad, will endure and prevail. Asad left us a tremendous gift and we must continue to honour that gift by loving and taking care of one another.”

Tanveer Ahmed, 32, appeared in private at Glasgow Sheriff Court charged with the murder of Mr Shah.

Ahmed, from Bradford, made no plea or declaration and was remanded in custody. He is due to appear again next week.

Police described the attack as “religiously prejudiced”.