Asad Shah killer will appeal 27 year murder sentence
Asad Shah's killer Tanveer Ahmed will appeal his sentence.
A man who murdered a Glasgow shopkeeper by stabbing and stamping on him in a religiously motivated attack is appealing his sentence. Tanveer Ahmed, 32, from Bradford in Yorkshire, attacked 40-year-old Asad Shah at his store in the Shawlands area on March 24. Mr Shah later died in hospital from the devastating head injuries he received. Almost every bone in his face was shattered. Ahmed who was ordered to serve 27 years in jail before he is eligible for parole, claimed he had carried out the killing because Mr Shah “disrespected Islam”. The judiciary department have confirmed that an appeal against sentence has been lodged. As he was lead to the cells to start his sentence, Ahmed shouted to his family and friends in the public gallery in what is believed to be Arabic, before being lead to the cells and they chanted back at him. At the High Court in Glasgow judge Lady Rae told Ahmed: “ This was a barbaric, premeditated and wholly unjustified killing of a much loved man who was a pillar of the local community. “He was described as a peaceful and peace-loving man and family man who went out of his way to show respect for those of any faith.” She branded the attack as “an appalling display of merciless violence” as he ignored the pleas from Mr Shah's brother to stop. She added: “No one in any civilised country including Scotland has the right to take the life of another whatever offence that individual perceives that he or she has suffered. “It is vitally important in modern society that respect and tolerance for others of any race, creed, colour, ethinc origin or religious belief is maintained and protected by the law of the land.” Mr Shah was stabbed up to 30 times and had his head and face repeatedly stamped on after publishing hundreds of videos about his spiritual beliefs online. He was an Ahmadiyya, a group known for its peaceful interfaith views. Ahmed said he had "disrespected" Islam. The judge said she accepted that the killing wasn't motivated by any view towards the Ahmadiyya community. CCTV footage of the horrific attack showed Ahmed pulling a knife out and moving behind the counter of Mr Shah's shop in Minard Street, Glasgow, and stabbing him repeatedly. Mr Shah managed to get outside, but was stabbed again and then stamped on and kicked in a frenzied attack as he lay dying in the street. Mr Shah's brother Athar Shah tried to intervene, but was unable to fend Ahmed off. After the brutal murder as his victim lay dying on the ground, Ahmed walked calmly to a bus shelter where police found him a short time later. Ahmed pled guilty to murdering Mr Shah on March 24 at his Glasgow store. The court heard that Mr Shah was an Ahmadi Muslim and they differ from the majority of Muslims, including Sunni Muslims, in that they believe the Prophet Muhammad was not the final Prophet. The majority of Muslims believe Muhammad was the final Prophet and say any other view is inconsistent with Islamic belief. Defence counsel Gordon Jackson QC said the attack was “not motivated by animosity against a particular community”, or because Mr Shah wrote a message on social media for his Christian friends. He added that Ahmed took a knife with him because he wasn't sure of the reaction he would get but not intend to use it, until the situation was “enflamed”. Mr Jackson said: “He wished reason, he wished to talk, he wished to get some acknowledgement from Mr Shah as to what he was saying, some acknowledgement of the wrongfulness as far as he was concerned.” He said: “Things were said, which to his mind was so disrespectful, that he just lost it. The irony is he won't repeat them he simply will not repeat what was said even to me.” Mr Shah's parents and four of six siblings came to Scotland in 1991 after fleeing violence in Pakistan. Mr Shah and his two remaining siblings joined them in 1998. Advocate depute Iain McSporran, prosecuting said Mr Shah used social media and published written and spoken material on Facebook and YouTube, with some messages claiming he was a Prophet. He added: “The accused's consistent and repeated account as to his motivation for murdering Asad Shah was that Shah claimed to be a Prophet, which so offended his feelings and his faith that he had to kill him.” Ahmed became enraged after viewing Mr Shah's Facebook page. He drove to Glasgow on the day of the murder and on the way watched an interview on his mobile in which Mr Shah claimed he was a prophet. Ahmed is heard in a phone message saying “listen to this guy, something needs to be done, it needs nipped in the bud”. He arrived at the shop around 9pm, approached the counter and spoke to Mr Shah, who appeared to offer to shake hands, but was rebuffed. Mr Shah served a customer, they had a heated discussion and then Ahmed pulled out a knife and began stabbing. Mr McSporran said: “The accused having apparently not received the response he was looking for, reaches into the robes he is wearing and removes a knife with which he attacks Asad Shah, moving behind the counter to do so. “Asad Shah attempted to flee his assailant and moved outside the shop, but the accused kept hold of him and continued striking him with the knife.” Outside Ahmed continued his “determined attack”. The court heard Mr Shah was “long past being in any position to defend himself” and blows were delivered to his head and face, despite pleas from his brother for Ahmed to stop. Ahmed then calmly walked to a bus shelter and sat “head bowed as if in prayer” and made no attempt to escape. Mr Shah suffered multiple broken bones and a skull fracture more commonly seen in car crash victims. Mr McSporran said: “The attack was persisted in so that only death could possibly have been the intended outcome.” Ahmed said his actions were motivated by Mr Shah's decision to “disrespect the Koran, the Prophet Mohammad, Allah and faith.” He said he told Mr Shah he must stop claiming to be a Prophet, but he refused. When he appeared in court following his arrest he admitted killing Mr Shah and said: “This all happened for one reason and no other issues and no other intentions. “Asad Shah disrespected the Prophet of Islam, the messenger of Allah, Prophet of Muhammad, peace be upon him. “No one has the right to disrespect the Prophet of Islam. If I had not done this others would have and there would be more killings and violent 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 though I am a follower of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, I also love and respect Jesus Christ.”