Insulting the Islamic prophet Mohammed got someone killed — again. The influence of “the religion of peace” didn’t dissuade one Pakistani national from killing a university lecturer on Wednesday for allegedly “insulting the Prophet Mohammed.”
The suspect, only identified by his first name, is a 37-year-old Pakistani national who reportedly was failed out of a class at Leonardo de Vinci University (Pôle Universitaire Léonard de Vinci) in Paris, France the previous year and held a grudge against teacher John Dowling, who he eventually confessed to murdering. The suspected killer was expelled from the university in 2017.
According to the Daily Mail:
CCTV footage shows Mr Dowling chatting calmly with Ali at around midday, before the attacker took out a steak knife and plunged it into the Irishman’s throat, and then into his chest[…]
Ms Denis said Ali R. was not known to the intelligence services, but was an ‘obsessive patriot’ from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
He had just renewed his residency permit to stay in France, and had bought the steak knife from a supermarket close to the university.
There are indications that he may have arranged to meet his victim, and police are combing through telephone and email records to try and establish a link.
“He [Dowling] produced a drawing, which he showed off in class, insulting the Prophet Mohammed,” the suspect said according to the prosecutor involved in the case, Catherine Denis.
However, Denis also noted that “nobody remembers such an incident.”
Dowling, 66, taught English and International Relations at the private school for 20 years, where he delivered lectures on a regular basis.
The news of the Dowling’s murder has reverberated throughout an already tense Paris, with some talking about retaliation.
“He was a profoundly kind person,” a former student said, according to the Irish Times. “No one understands why he was attacked, though some people are talking about revenge.”
Very sad. Rest in peace, Mr. Dowling.