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Top Muslim leaders in Oklahoma City are fearful for their life after the beheading of a Vaughan Foods staffer last week in Moore.
30-year-old Alton Nolen has been accused of killing 54-year-old Vaughn Foods employee Colleen Hufford and for attacking two other people last Thursday after he was suspended from his job for using racial slurs. Tensions flared up in Moore when Nolen was identified in case files as a practicing Muslim, with the situation already being uneasy due to the beheading of two American journalists by Islamic State (IS) extremists.
Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn announced on Wednesday, after he conferred the victim’s family, that he will pursue the death penalty against Nolen.
Senior Imam of the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City and the Chairman of Islamic Studies at Oklahoma City University Imad Enchassi informed the FBI that four threats were made to his life. One such threat mentioned that executive director of the Oklahoma Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Adam Soltani would be beheaded.
“It is scary and disconcerting, but I believe in my faith, my community and standing up for what’s right. I’m going to continue doing what I’ve been doing in showing the true image of Islam”, Soltani said. Soltani also said that he and other Muslim religious leaders in Oklahoma City have taken special security precautions since the threats were made.
Another threat warned that “judgment day is coming soon” for Muslims in Oklahoma City, while a third threat had a photo of a gun with the words “we’re ready for you” on it.
“We take all of these seriously. But on a positive note, we have had overwhelming support from regular Oklahomans, civil liberties groups and interfaith organizations. Many people in Oklahoma are on our side and do not wish us any harm”, Enchassi said.
A preliminary hearing of the charges on Nolen has been scheduled for October 14th. Nolen is currently being detained at Cleveland County Jail without bail.