Prominent Orchard Park man charged with beheading his wife

[biopowertoday]

Source: Buffalonews (NY)






02/13/09 12:28 PM

Prominent Orchard Park man charged with beheading his wife

By Gene Warner

News Staff

Orchard Park police are investigating a particularly gruesome killing, the beheading of a woman, after her husband -- an influential member of the local Muslim community -- reported her death to police Thursday.

Police identified the victim as Aasiya Z. Hassan, 37. Detectives have charged her husband, Muzzammil Hassan, 44, with second-degree murder.

.........

Muzzammil Hassan told police that his wife was at his business, Bridges TV, on Thorn Avenue in the village. Officers went to that location and discovered her body.

Muzzammil Hassan is the founder and chief executive officer of Bridges TV, which he launched in 2004, amid hopes that it would help portray Muslims in a more positive light.

The killing apparently occurred some time late Thursday afternoon. Detectives still are looking for the murder weapon.

"Obviously, this is the worst form of domestic violence possible," Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III said today.

Authorities say Aasiya Hassan recently had filed for divorce from her husband...................................

Read more: http://www.buffalonews.com/494/story/578644.html

---

OH MY GAWD!!

[TwilightGardener]

1. Yes, nothing helps people see Muslims in a more positive light like

beheading your own wife. That's some awesome PR, right there...

[aquart]

44. Well, the good husbands don't make the news.

Like my friend Alice's Jordanian husband Mohammed. A good, loving, hardworking man who adores his wife and children. Never gonna make a headline. But his existence keeps me quite grounded (we are, naturally, on opposites sides of the Israel/Palestine discussion).

[saigon68]

68. amid hopes that it would help portray Muslims in a more positive light.

A More Positive Light

HMMM

What's a Good Beheading, now and then

To fire up the Mullahs


One thing for sure

She won't be shooting her mouth off anymore

[clixtox]

45. I am guessing that Valentines Day wasn't observed by the Perp... So tragic!

Happy Valentines Day to everyone, especially everyone who reads/writes here, and contributes to DU in any way.

I love this site for keeping me up-to-date with what is important news-wise in the USA.

I much prefer Valentines Day to X-mas.

Love is really all there is!

Get out there and share some love today, we need affection/love right now more than ever.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. "portray Muslims in a more positive light" the article said.

That didn't go so well, did it?

[catgirl]

4. Buffalo Man Who Launched TV Network to Show Muslims in Positive Light Arrested -- for Beheading His

Source: Editor & Publisher

NEW YORK A prominent Buffalo area businessman who founded the BridgesTV network to improve the image of Muslims in the U.S. has been arrested and charged with murdering his estranged wife – by beheading her at his company’s office in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Thursday.

Police have charged the husband, Muzzammil Hassan, 44, with second-degree murder in the death of Aasiya Z. Hassan, 37.

In its logo, BridgesTV boasts of “connecting people through understanding” via its dish network available in several states. Its Web site quotes comments about the company by Jay Leno, Brian Williams and others, plus a screen shot of a CNBC interview with Hassan conducted by Maria Bartiromo.

The site also shows a picture of Hassan with his slain wife, described as playing “an instrumental role in the creation of Bridges TV since she came up with the idea for the network.” The alleged killer is called “Mo S. Hassan” at the web site.

Read more: http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003941612

---

A very dark day in Buffalo. This is shocking news.

[Deja Q]

5. There is an old saying, as proclaimed by adolescent human males:

"Swift move, ex lax".

Not as much shocking as it is stereotype reinforcing, that so-called man is as dumb as diarrhea.

[clixtox]

46. I am old enough to remember the commercials as saying...

"Smooth Move, Ex Lax!"

[hlthe2b]

6. Very dark day indeed... This AND a fatal plane crash?

Whew...

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, more bizarre than the ironies we imagine.

[Hello_Kitty]

7. Second degree murder?

Are we supposed to believe that he did this in the heat of passion?

[Journeyman]

11. I believe New York only allows first degree murder charges for the killing of a police officer. . .

I remember reading that back when John Lennon was murdered and his assassin was charged with 2nd degree. . .

On edite: I did some reading and am even more confused. Looking at wikipedia (I'm too lazy and too uninterested to search further), there are two different schemes of murder degrees. Under the New York scheme, first degree murder is of a police officer, judge, fireman, or witness to a crime, as well as multiple murders or those involving "torture or especially heinous" circumstances. Why a murder such as this isn't being considered "especially heinous" is perplexing. Perhaps someone with a better understanding of the law will weigh in here, or further information will be released later that clarifies the DA's decision.

[ohio2007]

15. better to "burn those bridges" before more backward thinkers can cross over to this side

[slackmaster]

33. At least he didn't shoot her

:sarcasm:

[Bozita]

8. BridgesTV carries "Democracy Now!" broadcasts.

It's delayed for a day, but this is the only DN airing on my Comcast line-up.

[ohio2007]

50. Is this the balance the "Fairness Doctrine," is all about ?

:sarcasm:

[catgirl]

9. Here is her photo

I hope Bridges TV continues in her memory and for equality and respect for muslim women.

[pnwmom]

10. You've just made her real. This is so sick, I can hardly respond. n/t

[Bryn]

13. Such a beautiful woman

:(

[rollingrock]

20. They look very westernized

good looking, happy looking couple. what a shame. Both dressed in very western clothing, and she isn't even wearing a head scarf like most Muslim women do when living in a western country. I guess appearances can be deceptive. He wants to present a good face in public, but when they're at home he probably turns into a typical wife-beating Fundie tyrant.

[Critters2]

28. She was beautiful! What a tragedy. nt

[dustbunnie]

12. Those Orders of Protection are worth every bit of paper they're printed on!

This is just another incident of disgusting domestic violence. I honestly think women who want to leave their husbands but fear his potential for violence should just leave the house, everything they own, and run. The law can't protect them, and the attempt to fight for belongings only seems to fuel the rage.

That being said, no this doesn't reflect well on Islamic culture, if only for the stereotypical method of murder. What's the big fascination with beheading? He should have just shot her, and been more mainstream about it.

[Chipster]

14. Bad Timing for This To Come Out

Press Release: OSCE OPEN CALL FOR BEST PRACTICES SUBMISSIONS TO COMBAT INTOLERANCE AGAINST MUSLIMS

Washington, DC |February 11, 2009 | www.adc.org | The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is calling for best practices submissions for a new educational projects to combat intolerance against Muslims. An important component of these new projects is tracking educational practices and initiatives addressing intolerance against Muslims in the OSCE region, of which the United States is a member. For this purpose, ODIHR has called for submissions from inter-governmental organizations (IGOs), governments, local authorities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and practitioners at all levels of education.

To see this entire press release, click here : http://www.adc.org/index.php?id=3422

[ohio2007]

16. when should it have been leaked?

[Coventina]

17. I feel like I have to respond to this story, but I have no words

Words are simply unable to convey my reaction to this story.

[biopowertoday]

18. I know what you mean:-(

[dcindian]

19. What a sick individual

Remember it is the media's handy work alone that makes sure the muslim religion is brought forth each and every time something like this happens. Yet when the christians do the same thing you will never see their religion in the story.


Mexico which is a nearly 100% christian nation had well over 200 be headings in 2008. Yet someone try and find a story on the beheadings which mentions the religion for any other beheading which is not done by a muslim. You will not find one.

[WriteDown]

21. Supply links then for a Christian husband beheading his wife or

daughter. There should be plenty.

[dcindian]

23. So only muslim wife and daughter beheading count?

The media is doing great work on ya. And yes that is my point perfectly it would never appear in the story if a christian beheaded anyone even his wife or daughter. Perhaps if a preacher did it or something but not a regular person.

Idaho man pleads guilty to first-degree murder for beheading estranged wife

CALDWELL, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho man pleaded guilty Thursday to first-degree murder in the beheading death of his estranged wife in a deal that spares him the death penalty, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors had originally sought a death sentence, accusing Alofa Time of first-degree murder with aggravating factors because they said they had evidence he tortured Theresa Time before killing her last June 15.

Under the plea agreement, Time, 51, is to be sentenced to life in prison without parole. Formal sentencing was set for March 5.

Teresa Time's decapitated body was found after her husband, carrying the severed head in his pickup truck, swerved into oncoming traffic and collided with a sedan, killing Samantha Nina Murphy, 36, and her daughter, Jaelynne Grimes, 4. The impact caused the head to fly onto the road.

Time still faces two second-degree murder charges for the traffic deaths.

He had been scheduled to appear in state district court in July after his wife accused him of beating her.

A message was left after hours with a firm that does public defending for Canyon County.

Want to bet he is not muslim?

[WriteDown]

26. So how is this related to Christianity....

I don't see where he said it was for God. I am talking about religion based killings.

[dmallind]

63. Ermm.. how is this related to religion

No mention that he did it as an honor killing. No mention that he even subscribes to the idea of honor killings - and given that is wife is in Western clothing and his company shows such women routinely, chances are he may not. Why again is this related to religion at all? It may be of course - but we know nothing of that right now any more than we knew the Atlanta Olympic bombings were about religion to begin with? So again - why aren't Christian beheaders identified as Christian? Why should there be a difference beyond catering to the lowbrow prejudices of troglodytes?

[catgirl]

30. Regardless of religion...

That story was big news when it happened.

Of course the media is going to mention the religion of the couple in this case. They ran
BridgesTV. That makes it significant. Plus honor killings do happen around the world.
A brother killed his sister in Germany just this week. It was an honor killing.

[barbtries]

32. i agree

because of the nature of their work, it was going to be part of this story. no way to tell if he'd been a grocer and she a housewife if it would have been. i do know that people do heinous things. a few years ago a man close to where i lived at the time beat his wife to death and then tied her to the back of his van and went driving up and down a main thoroughfare. i could never forget that it was so grisly.

[dustbunnie]

34. Of course "Christian" beheadings make the news. You just posted one such article.

:)

Not sure what you're point is, but any time a prominent individual murders, rapes, or has sex with a same sex partner in an airport bathroom stall, it will make the news. If someone is in the business of promoting a religion or culture and they commit a heinous crime, it becomes news, whether the perpetrator is Christian, Muslim, Jewish or otherwise. It's the hypocrisy that's newsworthy, along with the crime.

Do you believe that Muslims should get a free pass, while Christians and Jews don't? If so, why do you think that?

[ohio2007]

52. ...but the link to the story posted doesn't work. ......... no link provided

in order to back track to other links provided at the site

[dcindian]

25. Wanna bet he is not muslim?

FULDA, Germany, Dec 8 (AFP) - An American soldier cut off the head of his pregnant wife's lover and put it on her bedside table in the hospital here where she was about to give birth, a spokesman at the German public prosecutor's office said on Wednesday.

The angry husband struck on Tuesday when his rival, a fellow GI in the American 11th cavalry regiment, was phoning the woman from nearby Sickels military airfield.

The first soldier cut off the second one's head with a knife, then drove to the hospital and showed it to his wife and left it there. The victim just had time to call down the telephone, "Your husband is coming," the German sources said.

An American army spokesman confirmed a decapitated body had been found in a telephone box at the military airfield. U.S. military police held the first man for questioning. He was not immediately named.

[WriteDown]

27. Jealousy is a tad different than

killing your wife because she took off her burka.

[dustbunnie]

35. Again, it made the news, so what's your point?

[Trajan]

39. His point is ...

They were NOT identified as Christians ....

And ? ... They were not ....

That was his claim, and it has been shown to be true in those instances ....

Why harangue him thusly ?

[dustbunnie]

40. Didn't mean to harangue.

Normally people are not identified by religion, but rightly or wrongly, one can make pretty good guesses based on their names. John Smith is not likely Jewish, or Armenian. Pics are often provided of the offender so one can easily see what race they belong to as well. I think the point was made earlier that it's only when the perpetrator's religion, political stance or cultural affiliation is relevant, that these details are provided. That seems fair, doesn't it?

[ohio2007]

54. ..that maybe the athiest wasn't a Xtian and at the time it was argued to be

PTSD due to his deployments.

But since the links are accidently left out......
It's impossible to see how the journalists spin went.

[dmallind]

64. What says he was an atheist at all? Or a Xian come to that?

THAT's the point - this alleged killer's religious leanings are in the first paragraph and repeated. Other non-Muslim alleged killers are not doctrinally identified.

[struggle4progress]

36. In the US, six or seven woman a day are killed by an intimate partner;

about 70% die from gunshot wounds, and about 25% die from knife wounds; so perhaps knives in the hands of intimate partners account for the deaths of (say) 280 women a year. About 51% of Americans identify with a Protestant denomination, and about 24% call themselves Catholic, so something like 75% of Americans call themselves "Christian." Thus, on purely statistical grounds, one expects something like 575 women shot to death each year by a "Christian" intimate, with another 200 or so killed by a "Christian" intimate's knife. US press reports, of course, seldom state religious affiliation

http://www.ojp.gov/bjs/homicide/intimates.htm
http://religions.pewforum.org/reports


It's not clear to me why you think it matters whether one beheads a spouse, as opposed to stabbing or shooting, but people with non-Muslim names do sometimes behead their spouses here in the states


Psych evaluation approved for man who beheaded wife
By Lauren Pack
Staff Writer
Saturday, January 10, 2009
HAMILTON — A Butler County judge has approved funds for an independent psychological evaluation of admitted killer Raymond Tanner to determine if he should remain under court control. Tanner, 52, was found not guilty by reason of insanity after decapitating his wife in 1990. He is seeking release from any court control of his freedom ... http://www.journal-news.com/n/content/oh/story/news/local/2009/01/10/hjn011009tanner.html

[ohio2007]

55. But some parts of the world,men are allowed to have four wives...even more

so when it comes to "crimes of passion" overseas, they don't make "headlines" here

until.....


its to late

Saudi princess says she's ready to drive



http://www.idahostatesman.com/apworldnews/story/662104.html

Yes,
the ugly untold side of the story

http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/world/2009/02/09/D96826QO0_ml_saudi_women_driving/index.html

She'll probably will meet the same fate of another princess

[rollingrock]

22. It's legitimate to point out the Muslim religion in these cases

When Muslims kill their own women they typically do it in the name of 'honor' or because the wife or daughter has offended some Muslim code of conduct in their eyes. In this case the article is pointing out the irony of the killing. A Muslim man starts a TV station to portray Muslims in a more positive light and then goes and cuts his wife's head off. Nothing wrong with pointing out the irony in that.

[dcindian]

24. In this one case yes but there are many more where it is not.

Many more. But this one does fit the christian narrative much better then most.

[cigsandcoffee]

29. What's "the christian narrative?" (n/t)

[ohio2007]

38. this one does fits the christian narrative much better then most? Yes, do tell

"the Xtian" narrative cognitive dissonance connection

[JVS]

69. Yeah, how come nobody talks about all the times people don't cut off their wife's head!

[gabby garcia]

37. the sheer irony of this despicable crime

is enough to warrant the religion factor to be brought up.

it takes a certain type of person to actually cut off another person's head.

ones I can think of offhand:

executioners (paid to do so and usually decreed by a judicial system for crimes or political reasons)

mercenaries (paid to do so and usually per instruction)

people with severe psychosis (sociopaths, psychotics, etc)

religious nutjobs - Muslim or otherwise (those who think it is their god's given right to kill, hack, maim for "honor", "retribution" or whatever.)

why not bring it up?

you seriously don't think it has anything to do with this murder?

you don't think that this man's religious dogma inspired his crime?

I bet his attorney is planning a defense based upon this as we write.

gg

[Sultana]

43. Dumb post

:rofl:

[woo me with science]

47. Doesn't that knee hurt? nt

[Name removed]

49. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ohio2007]

48. you confuse Xtians with drug cartels when defending the right for beheading spouses

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=69d_1176556925


loser

[Lost in CT]

56. Those were drug gangs beheading soldiers.. apples and oranges. nt

[JerseygirlCT]

31. Why 2nd degree? nt

[Lithos]

53. Has to do with pre-meditation and planning

Not with the murder itself. First degree is where someone plans a murder to the point of planning out how to hide the body, escape the scene etc. Second degree is usually a case where the murder happens spontaneously.

An assassination is first degree, a murder of "passion" is second degree. There are usually elements of both in any murder, the part part in prosecution is providing enough that makes the First degree rather obvious.



L-

[JerseygirlCT]

62. Thanks for explaining

It sort of seems to me that beheading someone would take some planning... But so long as this bastard is put away for the rest of his sorry life, I'd be satisfied.

[MetaTrope]

41. One thing missing from the story

What evidence is there that he committed the crime?

[rollingrock]

42. It says she filed for divorce only recently

and had a restraining order on him.

not proof of his guilt, but its pretty strong circumstantial evidence.

[ohio2007]

51. A protection order is useless against a fatwa order

In some countries, his actions are justified

[barb162]

60. Protection orders are pretty useless in general

as this one indicates at least.

[lunatica]

66. He turned himself in and told the police where she was...

[Brooklyns_Finest]

57. It's called hypocrisy

When a national Christian leader who is anti gay (Ted Haggard)is found to be having a gay affair, people on this site cheer. When a prominent Muslim leader who creates a station to shed a positive light on Muslim culture beheads his wife, we should be equally outraged. Not just because he killed his wife, but the hypocrisy of what he is trying to portray compared to his actual actions.

All i ever read on this site is how christian fundamentalist are intolerant homophobes, yet there is a problem when people point out how muslims are misogynistic.

[CanonRay]

58. So hows that "positive light" working out for him?

[KakistocracyHater]

59. male pride needs to be leashed

this is not about honor at all, that's just the lie they tell themselves.

[The Traveler]

65. It has nothing to do with male pride

It has everything to do with male insecurity and fear.

Trav

[barb162]

61. OUTRAGEOUS. HORRIBLE. TERRIBLE. VICIOUS.

I hope this man gets the most time in prison possible.

[OKNancy]

67. kick