US Veteran Defendant In Islamophobia Murder Case Sentenced To 55 Years In Prison

JAKARTA A US military veteran was sentenced to 55 years in prison for the murder of an Afghan refugee after he shouted insults at Islamophobia to the victim.

Reported by ANTARA from Anadolu, Friday, June 23, after a three-day trial, Dustin Passarelli was found guilty in Indiana State in the US FAA of the murder of Mustafa Ayoubi (32), with additional time due to the use of firearms.

Ayoubi was unarmed during a murder in Indianapolis City in February 2019. The autopsy showed that Ayoubi was shot eight times, with seven shots on the back.

Following the "on the street" argument between the two, Passareli followed Ayoubi out of the road to the migrant apartment complex and made an Islamophobic statement, such as "returning to your country", before firing a shot, according to eyewitnesses.

In his plea, Passarelli tried to claim posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to military service was the cause of the shooting.

Passarelli did not face charges of hate crimes, but the killings came at the same time as Indiana's board members debated a new hate crime bill, allowing a longer verdict for "bias"-motivated crimes.

"Ayoubi's family and the entire Muslim community Hoosier Bintahaterkena were affected by the action and hated the defendants who were presented that day," Prosecutor Ryan Mears told local media.

"We cannot eradicate hatred with just one step, but the prosecutor's office will continue to hold individual responsibility if they commit acts with great hatred towards our community members," he said.

After reading the verdict, victim's sister Zahra Ayoubi wrote on Twitter: "In a world filled with prejudice and fear, She stands tall, the essence is clear. A soul so shining, broken hatred, in the middle of the night. She is more than just a victim, she is a fire, She stands and humiliates hatred. Justice is upheld!".