Tanveer Ahmed, the man accused of murdering Glasgow shopkeeper Asad Shah, above, has issued a statement saying he carried out the killing because he believed Shah had “disrespected” Islam.

Ahmed, 32, from Bradford, is accused of killing Shah outside his shop in Glasgow a fortnight ago.

In the statement he denied the incident had anything to do with Christianity.



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 prophets 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 I am a follower of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him I also love and respect Jesus Christ.

Ahmed claimed Asad Shah had “disrespected” Islam by claiming to be a prophet.Shah, who had moved from Pakistan to Glasgow almost 20 years ago, was found with serious injuries outside his shop on Minard Road in Shawlands on 24 March. He was pronounced dead in hospital.He was killed just hours after he posted an Easter message on Facebook to his customers.The message said:Good Friday and a very happy Easter, especially to my beloved Christian nation.”During the police investigation officers claimed the incident was “religiously prejudiced” and confirmed both men were Muslims.Shah was a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim sect known for its non-violence and interfaith concerns.Ahmadiyya are banned by the constitution of Pakistan from referring to themselves as Muslims.Tanveer Ahmed made no plea during a private court appearance, where he was charged with Shah’s murder.He was remanded in custody and is expected to appear at the High Court at a later date.Ahmed’s highly unusual statement was made through his lawyer, John Rafferty after his second appearance at court before sheriff Brian Adair.The statement said:



Meanwhile, Asian World, in an article highlighting the bitter divisions between the Ahmadiyyas and orthodox Muslims, reported that leading Scottish human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar, above, has received death threats over his calls at Glasgow Central Mosque last week for unity in the Islamic community following the killing of Shah, as well as the terror attacks in Brussels and Lahore.

According to this report, the threats have been made by phone and text. Anwar has also received torrents of abuse on social media, with posters accusing him of waging “a vendetta” and “smear campaign” against the Glasgow Mosque in an attempt to shut it down.

Last month Anwar slammed Habib ur Rehman – one of the most senior figures at the mosque for posting posted messages online praising the extremist Pakistani murderer Mumtaz Qadri. The killer was executed in February for the assassination of Punjab’s Governor Salman Taseer.

To describe a convicted terrorist as a ‘true Muslim’ or draw parallels with the ‘French resistance fighting the Nazis’ is grotesque.

There can be no moral or religious justification for remarks which glorify murder.

It is of deep shame that Scotland’s most senior Imam has expresses ‘immense pain’ for the plight of a convicted terrorist, but said nothing about a 71-year-old Mohammed Asghar from Edinburgh on death row for blasphemy or Christians murdered over blasphemy laws.

Every time a terrorist attack happens, the Muslim community is asked to justify our very existence even though we bear no responsibility.

Comments promoting the virtues of twisted psychopaths claiming to act in the name of Allah will only harm our community.

Let’s be clear Mumtaz Qadri was no ‘true Muslim’ or ‘martyr’ and the grotesque views expressed by this Imam must be condemned without compromise. He said:

Later, the mosque issued an apology.

Hat tip: AgentCormac