Ar Suman, a Muslim, and one of three roommates who shared a small first-floor apartment with Sen in Elmhurst, told the New York Times that he and Sen often discussed religion.
Though they were of different faiths, Suman said, he admired the respect that Sen showed for those who saw the world differently than he did. Suman said he once asked Sen why he was not more active in his faith and it resulted in a long philosophical discussion.
"He was so gentle," Suman was quoted as saying. "He said in this world a lot of people are dying, killing over religious things."
Reacting to the suspect woman's statement, the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations repeated its call for America's political and religious leaders to speak out forcefully against growing anti-Muslim hate in American society.
"We again urge our nation's leaders to speak out forcefully against the rising level of anti-Muslim hate in American society that is being fueled and exploited by a vocal minority of Islamophobes," said CAIR-NY Executive Director Muneer Awad.
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