Family in ‘deep agony,’ says imam at funeral for Nabil Askafe, the 16-year-old killed at Hamilton mall

More than 100 people gathered at the Hamilton Mountain Mosque Monday afternoon for the funeral of Nabil Askafe, the 16-year-old Hamilton boy killed over the weekend at Jackson Square mall.

Some people cried quietly and the mood was somber as the funeral got underway. After a prayer, president of the mosque Javid Mirza said it doesn’t get easier seeing parents bury their children instead of the other way around. “To all of his loved people,” he said, “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

Askafe, who immigrated from Syria with his parents and little brother around a decade ago, was shot and killed at the mall Friday, Hamilton police said. He was a Westdale Secondary School student.

On Monday morning, police told CBC News his alleged killer — a 14-year-old whose identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act — appeared in court and was charged with second-degree murder. The suspect turned himself in on Sunday, police said.

At the funeral, Sayed Tora told those gathered Askafe was “a student. He was a friend. He was a vibrant member of the community,” adding there is “deep agony” in the hearts of Askafe’s parents. Tora is the youth director with the Hamilton Downtown Mosque, where he was also the imam for many years.

“He was loving, caring, sweet, very passionate about life and he loved his family, his community, his friends,” Tora told CBC News.

He said Askafe was one of the first people who came forward to volunteer at the Muslim youth centre downtown.

Tora said in the end more than 300 people attended the funeral.

A friend of Akafe’s read a few words. “I’m still trying to understand,” the friend said, adding he’s “still expecting to see you laugh” and reminiscing about Askafe’s good sense of humour. 

He described Askafe as someone who made everyone laugh, even when he was carrying his own struggles. “You were a good son, a good brother and a good person,” he said. 

“I miss you more than words can explain.”

Syrian community grieving alongside family

Ahead of the funeral on Monday, Abrar Mechmechia, who knows Askafe’s family, spoke to CBC Hamilton. “It’s a devastating loss for a newcomer family who escaped the war seeking safety in Canada,” Mechmechia said.

Mechmechia is a mental health and trauma counsellor, who works in and around Hamilton. She said she’s known Askafe’s family for about eight years through both the Syrian community and because his family members have volunteered with her programming.

“It’s definitely such a traumatic experience [the family is] going through,” she added.

In addition to the teen’s family, “the entire community is shaking,” Mechmechia said. “They’re not able to understand why such a [tragedy] could happen in the middle of the day in downtown Hamilton.”

Police have said Askafe and the teen who allegedly killed him got into a physical altercation “just inside” the mall at King Street W. near a Himalayan restaurant. The 14-year-old brandished a gun, police said, and shot Askafe.

Young people in the Syrian community are “questioning their own safety,” Mechmechia said.

She said Askafe’s death is “too tragic” and highlights the responsibility all of Hamilton has to keep young people safe.

Imam calls on politicians to take action

When dealing with a loss like this, Mechmechia said, newcomers face additional challenges, including being displaced from extended family and language barriers plus a lack of familiarity when dealing with police.

“We’re hoping to ensure that this is not only family loss, it’s a loss that the whole community is carrying and we all are feeling the weight of,” Mechmechia said. “And we’re hoping that this never ever happens again.”

At the funeral Monday, Tora called on Mayor Andrea Horwath and MPP Sandy Shaw, who were present, as well as other political leaders, to take action on youth violence.

“The answer to these kind of incidents is not to keep increasing the police budget,” he said. “[But to] tap into and invest in youth programs and initiatives … and put our money where our mouth is.”

He also said he feels bad for the 14-year-old suspect, whose family must also be devastated.

“At the same time, the questions everyone is asking in the community is, why are there guns in the hands of these young people? And what needs to be done to make our streets or schools our malls and our neighbourhoods safe?”

In a statement on Friday, Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath said the city needs “urgent, stronger action to get illegal firearms out of our communities.”

After the ceremony Monday, family friend Naime Avdyli told reporters she wants everyone who has kids to keep a close eye on them and make sure they’re being safe.

As a parent herself, she said Askafe’s death makes her fearful. “You could be at the wrong place, wrong time. As a parent doing our job, it still doesn’t seem [like] enough.”