| With
the Name of God, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 8, 2001 Boy Killed at Galludet University Identified Himself as a Muslim |
This
article was published in the www.amconline.org on Feb 08,2001 |
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(WASHINGTON D.C. Feb. 8)—Early Saturday morning, a Gallaudet University resident assistant was making checks of dorm rooms after a fire alarm had been triggered and found Benjamen Varner stabbed to death in his dorm room. The American Muslim Council is deeply saddened by this incident and extends their condolences to his parents, William and Diane. Benjamen, who was a freshman at the nation’s oldest university for the deaf, was a Muslim, his father told the Washington Post yesterday. Below is an excerpt from the February 7 article in the Washington Post: "Ben identified himself as a Muslim." At about age 13, Ben developed an interest in Islam and began studying the Koran and attended a mosque in San Antonio. He said he wanted to one day marry a Muslim woman and raise a family." It is devastating when any young person just starting his/her life is killed so heinously. When the victim is a Muslim, the community feels an even deeper sense of loss. We pray that God Almighty showers Ben with his mercy and gives his parents strength through this difficult time. Our condolences are with them," said Aly Abuzaakouk, AMC Executive Director. He also went on to say, " We hope that a hate crime was not committed against Ben due to his faith." If you have any information about the brutal
stabbing of Benjamen, we urge you to contact the Washington D.C.
Metropolitan Police Department at: Ben will be buried in his hometown of San
Antonio, Texas this week. Letters of support or condolences should be sent
to the family care of Gallaudet University Office of Public Relations at: or care of Port Loring Funeral Home at:
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