JABAR EKSPRES – A US military veteran has been sentenced to 55 years in prison for the murder of an Afghan refugee after he shouted Islamophobic slurs at the victim.
After a three-day trial, Dustin Passarelli was found guilty in the US Midwest state of Indiana of the murder of Mustafa Ayoubi (32), with additional time for the use of a firearm.
Ayoubi was unarmed at the time of the murder in the City of Indianapolis in February 2019. An autopsy showed that Ayoubi was shot eight times, with seven shots in the back.
Following an “on the street” altercation between the two, Passarrelli followed Ayoubi off the street into a migrant apartment complex and made Islamophobic statements, such as “Go back to your country”, before opening fire, according to witnesses.
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In his pledo Passarrelli tried to claim that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to military service was the cause of the shooting.
Passarelli does not face hate crime charges, but the killing comes at a time when Indiana lawmakers are debating a new hate crime bill, which would allow for longer sentences for “bias” motivated crimes.
“Ayoubi’s family and the entire Muslim Hoosier community of Indiana were impacted by the act and hated the defendant who was presented that day,” Prosecutor Ryan Mears told local media on Friday (6/23).
“We cannot eradicate hate in a single step, but the prosecutor’s office will continue to hold individuals accountable if they commit hateful acts against members of our community,” he said.
After the verdict, the victim’s sister Zahra Ayoubi wrote on Twitter: “In a world torn by prejudice and fear, He stood tall, his essence clear. A soul so radiant, broken by hate, in the middle of the night. She is more than a victim, she is a flame, She stands and shames hate. Justice is served!”.