Shopkeeper murder accused says 'if I had not done this others would'

Updated

A man accused of killing a respected shopkeeper has said "if I had not done this others would".

Tanveer Ahmed, 32, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, appeared in court for the second time accused of murdering Asad Shah, 40, outside his convenience store in Glasgow's Shawlands area.

Ahmed made no plea when he appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Wednesday for a full committal hearing in private but after the hearing he released a statement through his lawyer, John Rafferty.

The statement said: "This all happened for one reason and no other issues and no other intentions.

"Asad Shah disrespected the messenger of Islam the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. Mr Shah claimed to be a Prophet.

"When 1,400 years ago the Prophet of Islam Muhammad peace be upon him has clearly said that 'I am the final messenger of Allah there is no more prophets or messengers from God Allah after me.

'''I am leaving you the final Quran. There is no changes. It is the final book of Allah and this is the final completion of Islam.

"'There is no more changes to it and no one has the right to claim to be a Prophet or to change the Quran or change Islam.'

"It is mentioned in the Quran that there is no doubt in this book no one has the right to disrespect the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him and no one has the right to disrespect the Prophet of Islam Muhammad Peace be upon him.

"If I had not done this others would and there would have been more killing and violence in the world.

"I wish to make it clear that the incident was nothing at all to do with Christianity or any other religious beliefs even although I am a follower of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him I also love and respect Jesus Christ."

Mr Rafferty said: "My client Mr Tanveer Ahmed has specifically instructed me that today, April 6 2016, to issue this statement to the press, the statement is in the words of my client."

Police had previously described the incident as "religiously prejudiced" and confirmed both men were Muslims.

The Crown Office said Ahmed was remanded in custody and is due to appear in court again at a date yet to be confirmed.

Mr Shah, an Ahmadi Muslim who moved from Pakistan to Glasgow in 1998, was discovered outside his shop on Minard Road on Thursday March 24 and taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Prior to the incident, he had posted a Facebook message wishing all Christians a happy Easter.

In an earlier statement, Mr Shah's family said they had been left devastated by the loss of a ''brilliant man''.

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