Muslims In England Burned After Returning From The Mosque, Perpetrators Asked To Be Strictly Punished

Fire illustration (ANTARA)

LONDON - The son of a 70-year-old British Muslim in Birmingham who was burned near his home on his way home from a local mosque asked for the harshest sentence for his father's attacker.

Mohammed Rayaz, a Muslim living in the city of West Midlands, was burned by 28-year-old Mohammed Abbkr, according to police statement.

Rayaz was attacked while walking home from the mosque to his home in Shenstone Road in Edgbaston.

The shocking incident, which was the second incident recently, left Rayaz seriously injured and had to be hospitalized.

In the media's first interview with Rayaz's close family, Anadolu spoke with his son Adnaan Riaz (30 years) about the incident that occurred just days before the start of the holy month of Ramadan.

Adnaan, said his father, who started working at a very young age, is currently a retiree after retiring from the meat factory.

In the attack that took place on Monday, he said Rayaz had been a target from the mosque and was followed up to Shenstone Road, where he was burned.

"Then, in a state of fire, (he) alone tried to remove his jacket and shirt," Adnaan said, adding that local residents then helped him go home.

"A pedestrian who is a local resident took my father to a house close by and that's when I opened the door and brought my father in," he continued as quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, March 25.

Adnan's 'Unfortunate, proceeds' said his father's burns were "very bad" with a number of serious injuries to his face, head and hands.

Since then, Mohammed Rayaz has been undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Before the attacker was identified, the police told the family the case was "very serious"

"Every attack like this to anyone is evil, evil and coward, especially targeting them retirees," said Adnaan.

Ramadan is a beautiful and important moment for Muslim life, he said. He mentioned that his father was a religious Muslim who always fasted and worshiped every day.

"Justice is needed" he stressed. He stressed that the attacker, who has been arrested, must receive "the most severe punishment" in the courts and the UK justice system.

West Midlands police said Abbkr allegedly sprayed substances on two men and burned them in separate incidents in Ealing, London, and Birmingham on 27 February and 20 March.

He was charged with two counts of attempted murder for his crimes in London and Birmingham, police said Thursday.