NEW YORK (CNN) -- The founder of an Islamic television station in upstate New York aimed at countering Muslim stereotypes has confessed to beheading his wife, authorities said.
Muzzammil Hassan was charged with second-degree murder after police found the decapitated body of his wife, Aasiya Hassan, at the Bridges TV station in the Buffalo suburb of Orchard Park, said Andrew Benz, Orchard Park's police chief.
Hassan was arrested Thursday.
His wife filed for divorce January 6, and police had responded to several domestic violence calls at the couple's home, Benz said.
Hassan went directly to the police station after his wife's death and confessed to killing her, Benz told CNN. Benz declined to give further details.
Attempts to reach an attorney for Hassan were unsuccessful, and his family didn't return calls from CNN.
He had two children, 4 and 6, with his wife. He had two other children, 17 and 18, from his previous marriage.
He launched Bridges TV, billed as the first English-language cable channel targeting Muslims inside the United States, in 2004. At the time, Hassan said he hoped the network would balance negative portrayals of Muslims following the attacks of September 11, 2001.
The station's staff is "deeply shocked and saddened by the murder of Aasiya Hassan and the subsequent arrest of Muzzammil Hassan," a statement from Bridges TV said.
"Our deepest condolences and prayers go out to the families of the victim," the statement said.
Founder of Islamic TV station accused of beheading wife - CNN.com
This guy has done real harm to the image of Muslims for this IMO.
I know we don't have all the information, but I wonder why he wasn't charged with first degree murder?
Since his wife filed for divorce on January 6th, this could easily have been premeditated.
Hopefully more will come out as the investigation goes further.
Hmmmmmmmmmm.Founder of Islamic TV station accused of beheading wife - CNN.com
This guy has done real harm to the image of Muslims for this IMO.
I know we don't have all the information, but I wonder why he wasn't charged with first degree murder?
Since his wife filed for divorce on January 6th, this could easily have been premeditated.
Hopefully more will come out as the investigation goes further.
I guess I don't really see a connection between him being a nutcase and killing is wife and his choice of religion.
I guess I don't really see a connection between him being a nutcase and killing is wife and his choice of religion.
I think the "beheading a woman" thing pretty much says it all.
Not necessarily. It could be this guy is just a class A nutjob as dclxvinoise pointed out.
I don't think being muslim precludes being a nutjob. In fact, when you look at the middle east, they kind of go hand in hand.
I'm just saying that his religion doesn't necessarily have anything to do with what he did. And even if he did it for religious purposes, that doesn't exactly mean that being Muslim and beheading people go hand in hand. Perhaps they do with extremists, but not Muslims in general. That's all I was trying to say.
The founder of an Islamic television station in upstate New York aimed at countering Muslim stereotypes has confessed to beheading his wife, authorities said.
Nadia Shahram, a matrimonial lawyer in Williamsville, said that some Muslim men consider divorce a dishonor on their family.
A teacher of family law and Islam at the University at Buffalo Law School, Shahram said that “fanatical” Muslims believe “honor killing” is justified for bringing dishonor on a family.
While it has not been determined whether Aasiya Hassan’s death had anything to do with fanatical beliefs, the community should address the attitudes that make divorce particularly difficult for many Muslim families, Shahram said.
“I have not had one [case] where the husband wanted to settle outside of the court system,” she said.
In some interpretations, the Quran allows husbands to punish “disobedient” women, Shahram said, adding that this is a minority view.
Possibility of 'honor killing' mulled in Orchard Park slaying : Home: The Buffalo News
I'm just saying that his religion doesn't necessarily have anything to do with what he did. And even if he did it for religious purposes, that doesn't exactly mean that being Muslim and beheading people go hand in hand. Perhaps they do with extremists, but not Muslims in general. That's all I was trying to say.
I think people in general understand the difference between moderate Muslims and radical Islamic whackos, but let me toss this out. IMO, moderate Muslims are generally more tolerable of this sort of thing than more westernized people.
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