Thousands pray for Pakistani student slain at Texas high school

Photo by Ahmed Sharma

A prayer service was held prior to the funeral for Sabika Sheikh. 

By Ahmed Sharma
ASAM NEWS

SUNDAY (May 19) was a dark and dreary day in Texas. Rain poured heavily as cars raced to attend the funeral services for Sabika Sheikh, a Pakistani exchange student who was one of 10 killed during last week’s school shooting in Sante Fe, a small town outside Houston.

Thousands of Muslims gathered at Masjid As-Sabireen mosque in Stafford, a city about 19 miles away from Houston, to pay their respects. The overflow crowd prayed outside on the sidewalk.

As the prayers began, voices clamored to delay services a few more minutes so other people could find parking and join in. Despite a majority of the participants not knowing Sabika Sheikh, even the rain and scarce parking did not deter people from coming to pray for her.

Directly after the services, Sheikh’s body was carried to a hearse and taken to the airport, so that she may be buried in her hometown of Karachi, Pakistan.

SABIKA SHEIKH

A majority of the attendees did not know Sheikh but one volunteer said, “she has no family here except her host family and it happened here in our city so of course we will pay our respects. It is [part of] our [faith] and she is our daughter and our sister in Islam.”Among the attendees were dignitaries like Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Texas Rep. Al Green.

A crowd formed inside the mosque as well to hear from Sheikh’s host family and friends. According to the host parents, they began fasting with Sabika Sheikh during the month of Ramadan. One of the daughters of the host family, Jaelyn Cogburn, fought through tears during her eulogy: 

“When I first started school, I didn’t know anyone. And I met Saika, and she didn’t know anyone either. And we became very close…She was so loyal to her faith and her country. And she loved everybody. She was the most amazing person I’d ever met, and I will always miss her.”

“Sabika’s case should become an example to change the gun laws,” Aziz Sheikh, Sabika’s father, told Reuters.  “I want this to become a base on which the people over there can stand and pass a law to deal with this. I’ll do whatever I can,” he said from Pakistan.

“One should not lose his heart by such kind of incidents,” he told the Associated Press. “One should not stop going for education to the U.S. or U.K., or China, or anywhere. One must go for education undeterred. But controlling such incidents is the responsibility of the respective governments.”

Sabika was in the U.S. as an exchange student under the YES program sponsored by the U.S. State Department.

Former Houston City Council member, M.J. Khan emceed the eulogies and prefaced by reminding everyone of the other nine children that were killed in the Santa Fe shooting and to offer prayers for them as well: 

“When you offer your prayers today, I know each and every one of you is mourning. Remember Aaron McLeod. Remember Christopher J. Stone. Remember Jared Black. Remember Christian Riley Garcia. Remember Angelique Ramirez. Remember Shauna Fisher. Remember Kimberly Vaughn. And the two teachers: Cynthia Tisdale and Glenda Perkins. And remember our beloved daughter, Sabika Sheikh.

After the Houston services, her body was sent home to Pakistan. Her father was at the Karachi  airport today (May 23) to receive her.

(Views from the Edge contributed to this report.)

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Couple found bound and murdered in their home

Jenny and Bao Lam were found murdered in their home.

A Texas couple was bound and shot to death in a home invasion in a gated community, according to police.

The bodies of Bao and Jenny Lam, both 61, were discovered inside their home in a gated neighborhood near Houston on Saturday night, when the victims' son went to check on them because he hadn't heard from them for several days.

The victims' son, Richard, called police from the home, the sheriff's office said. When deputies went inside, authorities said they found the Lams bound and shot to death."

They were executed," Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez told reporters Tuesday morning at a news conference where he released photos of "persons of interest."

The photos were taken from entry gate surveillance video. It shows two suspects arriving at about 8:20 p.m. Thursday in a 2007 to 2014 black Lincoln Navigator. The suspects parked near the gate and one of them crawled under the gate and into the subdivision, according to the sheriff's office.

Police say the suspects "ambushed the Lams inside their garage and forced them into their residence, where they were bound, robbed, and murdered." Their hands and feet were bound, officials said.

Over the next day or two, the suspects ransacked the house of anything of value including some firearms.

Richard Lam said his parents immigrated to the United States in the 1970s and worked several jobs at once.

"They were truly amazing people. They give their time and money to the community. My dad, if anybody asked him for help, he would not hesitate to give them a hand," he said, while his mother had "sage advice" for "every chapter" in their lives.

"Two men broke into their home last week killed them in cold blood," he continued. "We just need your help."
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Hurricane Harvey: Asian/Americans rush in to help neighbors

COAST GUARD NEW

A stranded Asian/American family was rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter crew.

WITH OVER 30,000 people in temporary shelters and at least 22 people dead as a result of Hurricane Harvey, residents of Houston and southwestern Texas are still coping with the disaster.

Federal aid came pouring in but with roads flooded over, getting supplies into the area have proven difficult.

Even though Harvey was downgraded from a Category 4 hurricane to a tropical storm, rain continues to fall and the threat of further flooding is still in effect.

Following is a compilation of news reports from a variety of media sources.

Indian/American physicians raising funds

NDTV

INDIAN/AMERICAN doctors have started a relief fund to help those affected by the catastrophic floods brought by Hurricane Harvey in Texas.

"Hurricane Harvey devastated Texas with severe winds and flash flooding. This serious natural disaster inflexed a grave loss of lives and property. Our hearts are with the victims of the disaster," said Gautam Samadder, president of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI).

He said some AAPI members and their families in Texas have also been hit by Harvey.

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The amount collected through donations will be given to the governor of Texas.

AAPI physicians represent 10 percent of all physicians in America but service approximately 30 percent of the patients in the country, Dr Samadder said.

He said the AAPI is concerned about the devastation caused by Harvey and is in the forefront to support and help people affected by the historic storm.

He called upon upon his fellow physicians to offer help for the purpose.

"At this time of the need, it is our responsibility to provide all the possible assistance to the victims of this grave natural disaster in Texas. Our physicians in Texas will serve the victims at no charge for next the 2-4 weeks," Dr Samadder said. 

Filipino/Americans rush to aid fellow Houstonians

BALITANG AMERICA

FILIPINO/AMERICAN Joseph Santarose, a champion tae kwon do competitor and owner of a dojo in Houston, opened his business as a shelter.

“I felt like I couldn’t sit back and do nothing. I was watching the news and reading everyone’s Facebook posts, and I wanted to see if you like but… hey if I have a place to provide for people, then why not I know it’s small but it’s better than nothing. I just want to help out as much as I can,” said Santarose.

Within 24 hours, the donations came pouring in. Santarose’s taekwondo studio quickly became a fully stocked facility, complete with a wide assortment of Filipino food. He has rendered aid to over 40 people…and more people in need are on their way.

He has rendered aid to over 40 people…and more people in need are on their way.

“It got full really fast. As soon as I posted on facebook within 30 minutes I had families coming in. One family had six people another timely had four, and I just kept building and building throughout the night.”

Fil-Ams who are able to help their fellow man are opening up their homes, hearts, and businesses, to give back to the community. Even braving the elements and high water to rescue those in dire need.

Paul Osario organized water rescues and a humanitarian effort to help a local dialysis clinic, braving the rain and floodwaters to transport the clinic workers by water, so they can continue to provide lifesaving dialysis treatments to desperate patients.

Gurdwaras, temples and mosques opened to hurricane victims

INDIA NEW ENGLAND NEWS

INDIAN/AMERICANS who are living in safer Texas neighbourhoods are helping people affected by the devastating Hurricane Harvey by offering them shelter, preparing food for thousands and distributing essential relief aid.

A massive number of Indian-Americans in the Greater Houston Area have been affected by the ongoing flooding. The Indian Americans formed numerous volunteer groups to help the victims using social media to communicate details about which family is affected in each locality, News India Times community newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Temples, gurdwaras and mosques all opened their doors in a massive effort to help people who lost their home in the catastrophic disaster. Indian restaurants were also reaching out to people with free food.

Approximately 100,000 Indian/Americans and Indians live in the Greater Houston Area, according to Kishore Rama Raju, who lives in the relatively less affected area of Eldridge in Houston.

Raju told the newspaper that he along with his group of friends through a Facebook account — HoustonDesiFriends — operationalised a rescue and relief effort with 100 volunteers.

“Volunteers are helping with rescuing those trapped by taking their large vehicles and trucks that can navigate through high waters, Raju said.

“We are sharing information across social media on what to do and what routes to take etc. for those in more affected areas,” another Indian American, Bangar Reddy said.

Temples like Shady Side and Astalakshmi in the Eldridge area were housing close to 500 mostly Indian/American families, the report said.______________________________________________________________________________