Aasiya Zubair
Encyclopedia
Aasiya Zubair, also known as Aasiya Hassan (June 17, 1972 – February 12, 2009) was with her husband Muzzammil Hassan
, the founder
and owner of Bridges TV
, the first American Muslim
English-language television network
. In February 2009, she was found dead, beheaded, at the Bridges TV station after her estranged husband turned himself into a police station and was charged with 2nd degree murder
.
Some observers regard the murder an honor killing
. Marcia Pappas
, New York State president of the National Organization for Women
told the Buffalo News that "This was apparently a terroristic version of honor killing, a murder rooted in cultural notions about women’s subordination to men.”
by training. Worried by the negative perceptions of Muslims, she "felt there should be an American Muslim media where her kids could grow up feeling really strong about their identity as an American Muslim" and came up with the idea for Bridges TV. She also studied for an MBA at State University of New York
College at Buffalo from 2007 to 2009.
Zubair was the focus of a cover story in the Vol. 3, Issue 2 (2003) issue of Azizah
Magazine; her face graced the cover.. Journalist Nadirah Sabir wrote about how Zubair conceived the idea of the nation's first Muslim television channel.
In addition to her pioneering work as a broadcaster, Zubair is being remembered as a catalyst for heightened awareness of the issue of domestic violence
, especially in the North American Muslim community. Wajahat Ali, acclaimed playwright and founder of GoatMilk, writing in The Guardian
noted that "[t]he absolute brutality of Aasiya's murder has served as a clarion call to many American Muslims who have passionately responded to the tragedy with a resounding desire to confront this festering calamity." Imam Mohamed Hagmagid Ali, vice-president of The Islamic Society of North America, stated: "This is a wake up call to all of us, that violence against women is real and can not be ignored. It must be addressed collectively by every member of our community."
A nationwide, unified effort entitled "Imams Speak Out: Domestic Violence Will Not Be Tolerated in Our Communities" commenced in February 2009 asking all imams and religious leaders to discuss the Zubair murder, as well as domestic violence, in their weekly sermon on their Friday prayer services.
On February 7, 2011, Muzzammil Hassan was found guilty of second degree murder for beheading murder of his wife of eight years, Aasiya Zubair.
Muzzammil Hassan
Muzzammil Syed Hassan, also known as Mo Steve Hassan, , is a Pakistani-American man convicted of murder. He was the CEO of Bridges TV , the first American Muslim television network broadcast in English....
, the founder
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
and owner of Bridges TV
Bridges TV
Bridges TV is a Muslim television network headquartered in Buffalo, New York. Premiering nationally in November 2004, it was the first American Muslim television network to broadcast in the English language....
, the first American Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
English-language television network
Television network
A television network is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, whereby a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay TV providers. Until the mid-1980s, television programming in most countries of the world was dominated by a small...
. In February 2009, she was found dead, beheaded, at the Bridges TV station after her estranged husband turned himself into a police station and was charged with 2nd degree murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
.
Some observers regard the murder an honor killing
Honor killing
An honor killing or honour killing is the homicide of a member of a family or social group by other members, due to the belief of the perpetrators that the victim has brought dishonor upon the family or community...
. Marcia Pappas
Marcia Pappas
Marcia Pappas is the New York State president of the National Organization for Women.She has been called "the most visible activist in New York State" and has said that Sarah Palin’s nomination as the 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate was "an obvious play for the support that Hillary...
, New York State president of the National Organization for Women
National Organization for Women
The National Organization for Women is the largest feminist organization in the United States. It was founded in 1966 and has a membership of 500,000 contributing members. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S...
told the Buffalo News that "This was apparently a terroristic version of honor killing, a murder rooted in cultural notions about women’s subordination to men.”
Professional life
Zubair was an architectArchitect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
by training. Worried by the negative perceptions of Muslims, she "felt there should be an American Muslim media where her kids could grow up feeling really strong about their identity as an American Muslim" and came up with the idea for Bridges TV. She also studied for an MBA at State University of New York
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
College at Buffalo from 2007 to 2009.
Zubair was the focus of a cover story in the Vol. 3, Issue 2 (2003) issue of Azizah
Azizah
Azizah Timimi is an American magazine for North American Muslim women. It is run by Tayyibah Taylor and Marlina Soerakoesoemah....
Magazine; her face graced the cover.. Journalist Nadirah Sabir wrote about how Zubair conceived the idea of the nation's first Muslim television channel.
Legacy
- See also Muzzammil Hassan: Reaction to Arrest
In addition to her pioneering work as a broadcaster, Zubair is being remembered as a catalyst for heightened awareness of the issue of domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
, especially in the North American Muslim community. Wajahat Ali, acclaimed playwright and founder of GoatMilk, writing in The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
noted that "[t]he absolute brutality of Aasiya's murder has served as a clarion call to many American Muslims who have passionately responded to the tragedy with a resounding desire to confront this festering calamity." Imam Mohamed Hagmagid Ali, vice-president of The Islamic Society of North America, stated: "This is a wake up call to all of us, that violence against women is real and can not be ignored. It must be addressed collectively by every member of our community."
A nationwide, unified effort entitled "Imams Speak Out: Domestic Violence Will Not Be Tolerated in Our Communities" commenced in February 2009 asking all imams and religious leaders to discuss the Zubair murder, as well as domestic violence, in their weekly sermon on their Friday prayer services.
On February 7, 2011, Muzzammil Hassan was found guilty of second degree murder for beheading murder of his wife of eight years, Aasiya Zubair.