The official website of the Ismaili community in a brief report states that at around 11.30 AM (Lisbon time) on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, a man armed with a knife entered the premises of the Ismaili Centre in Lisbon and attacked three people, killing two Ismaili women and injuring the third. The police and security services immediately responded, and the attacker has been taken into custody.
Naming the two victims as Mariana Jadaugy, 24, and Farana Sadrudin, 49, CNN Portugal stated that the latter victim is the niece of Nazim Ahmad, the diplomatic representative of the Ismaili Imamat in Portugal. The news of the attack has been reported by media around the world including Reuters and the BBC (please click on the links.) Click HERE to watch Reuters video report.
Farana’s funeral ceremony took place at the Ismaili Centre Lisbon at 11 AM local time on Friday, March 31, 2023. It is estimated that more than 1,500 people attended the ceremony.
The Lisbon School of Economics and Management (ISEG) issued the following In Memoriam statement on its website in honour of Mariana Jadaugy who was a student at the institution:
“ISEG deeply regrets the deaths that occurred yesterday at the Ismaili Center in Lisbon, in particular that of student Mariana Jadaugy, ISEG student, master in Development and International Cooperation. Mariana finished her master’s degree in December 2021 with an average of 15 out of 20, where she defended her thesis on the theme “Women’s Participation in Non-Governmental Organizations: Contributions to Your Study. ISEG vehemently repudiates any type of violence and discrimination, and associates itself with the pain of the Ismaili community in Portugal, also conveying its deepest feelings to the families, colleagues and friends of the victims.”
Mariana’s funeral ceremony will take place on Saturday, April 1, in Sintra, a town near Lisbon.
Portugal’s Prime Minister António Costa conveyed his solidarity to the victims’ families and to the Ismaili community. He said: “Everything points to this being an isolated incident.” According to the BBC, the Portuguese home affairs Jose Luis Carneiro has said that the alleged attacker was a “relatively young man” with three young children whose wife had died earlier. The minister went on to say said the man often visited the centre to to study Portuguese, collect food donations and for childcare. He added that the victims worked at the centre’s refugee support programme.
Simerg will continue to follow and report on this unfolding tragic news that has brought immense shock to the Ismaili world. The news is unthinkable coming a week after the community celebrated Navroz, the Persian New Year, on March 21, 2023, and on the 6th day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadhan, which commenced on Thursday, March 23.
We grieve with the families of the victims and convey our deepfelt condolences to them as well as members of the Ismaili Jamat in Portugal and around the world.
Featured photo at top of post: Security at the Ismaili Centre Lisbon following knife-attack.
Date posted: March 28, 2023.
Last updated: April 1, 2023 (added link to Reuters video report.)
______________
External links:
- The Portugal News: Portuguese President Marcelo comments on the Ismaili Centre attack
- President of the Republic condemns criminal act at the Ismaili Center
- Portugal Resident: Ismaili Centre attack: Everything we know so far by Michael Bruxo
Simerg invites readers to submit their thoughts, reflections and condolences on this breaking story that has emerged from Lisbon, Portugal. Please submit your feedback by clicking Leave a comment.
Simerg - Insights from Around the World 