Mumbai -The house of a Muslim youth, who is said to have played a key role in saving the life of two-year-old Moshe during the 26/11 terror attacks on the Chabad House in Mumbai, has become a “pilgrimage” for the people in Assam’s Karimganj district.
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Zakir Hussain (23) was a cook at the Jewish centre run by Moshe’s parents, Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and Rivka, the youth’s brother Kazi Afftar Hussain claimed. Scores of people visit his house at Kazirgram every day to convey their greetings and congratulations to him through his family.
“I am overwhelmed. I am very proud of my son’s heroic act,” said Fatima Begum, Zakir’s ailing mother.
Kazi Afftar Hussain, Zakir’s elder brother, also works in a restaurant on Muhammad Ali Road near the Chabad House. He had come home about a week before the terror attack to meet his mother. “We are five brothers and three sisters. Poverty forced me to shift to Mumbai three years ago. After I got a job, I took Zakir to Mumbai to work in a grocery shop. Later, he joined the Chabad House as a cook,” Afftar said.
“On the night of November 26, Zakir called up to say that the Chhabard House was under attack. He promised to ring up sometime later. But he did not call for the next couple of days. All of us remained glued to the TV set watching news,” Afftar added.
“After a few days I saw a photograph of Zakir holding Moshe in a local newspaper. I immediately called up Zakir and got the details what had happened at the Chhabad House,” said Afftar, who plans go back to Mumbai after Christmas.
At present, Zakir is working at an elderly woman’s house in Mumbai’s Nariman House area. “Rabbi’s relatives, who took away Moshe to Israel, have asked Zakir not to leave Mumbai. They want to keep him as a cook again after the centre opens,” Afftar added. The people of Kazirgram are getting ready to accord Zakir a hero’s welcome when he returns home. “We will have a grand reception for him,” said Mohhama Ibrahim, secretary of the All Assam Madrassa Students’ Association.
I think this is preety impressive that in spite of the terror attack he is not affraid and willing to continue. This shows a certain level of bravery . We should take a lesson from this and during a tough situation we shouldn’t give up we should move forward
It is always inspiring to hear stories like this. Muslim youth today need role models like this brave man.
To tell you the truth, before I read this story I was afraid that there might be amongst the Indian public some sort of undercurrent of “regret” that someone went out of their way to save a Jewish life. I’m glad to see that I my fear was unwarranted..
He seems more willing to continue than some of the local Jewish organizations that benefitted from Gaby and Rivky’s hard work and selflessness – sad
Great, maybe they can find a place for the new Bais Chabad since the Jews won’t rent them a building.
what exactly did he do to save moshe’le
How wonderful and what a relief to read about Muslims who do not hate Jews. This is rare.