October 09, 2007
Domestic Terror? Ismaeli Muslim Leader Murdered in Georgia
One of the leaders of the Nizari community in Georgia has been murdered. Her name was Yasmin Sayani and was a leader of the liberal Shia branch of Islam known as "Ismaeli". AJC:
Someone shot and killed Yasmin Sayani, a 45-year-old mother, nurse and religious leader, police said, but investigators are not talking about suspects.What a tragedy. Police are not talking about suspects yet. Could be just a random crime. But don't rule out an angry lone Salafi jihadi who believes Shia--and especially the more liberal followers of Ismaeli Islam--are "apostates".Sayani was found dead in an upscale subdivision near Snellville on July 18. Investigators said at first that they did not know whether her death was a suicide or homicide, but the medical examiner has since ruled it a homicide, said Cpl. Illana Spellman, spokeswoman for the Gwinnett County Police Department....
A member of the Ismaili branch of Islam, Sayani planned to meet that day with fellow believers in a meeting space behind a restaurant on Scott Boulevard near Decatur. She never showed up.
Sayani was a lay leader for women in the congregation, and typically attended worship services every day with her husband Saleem, according to Saloni Vastani, a spokeswoman for Sayani's Ismaili congregation.
Many of Yasmin's friends and family have been leaving messages here. One of them, a niece from Pakistan, believes this to be an "act of terrorism".
Understandably, the family and friends of this prominent community leader are baffled by the lack of information as to possible suspects.
Ismaeli leaders, both male and female, are appointed by the Agha Khan. You may remember the previous Agha Khan, Prince Aly Khan, for his marriage to Rita Hayworth and relationship with Gene Tierney. My kind of Islam.
Hat tip: Jeff Quinton
