…it’s an Islamic thing. The Taliban, Al Qaeda, and other Muslim groups dispatch their victims by roughly carving through the human neck with a hand-held knife, a process that takes a few minutes. The brain retains sufficient oxygen to live for about thirteen seconds after the head is severed — victims can still communicate their awareness by blinking their eyelids.

Execution by beheading was practiced historically in western Europe, but there it was done with the guillotine, a sharp heavy blade that dropped straight down and swiftly severed the neck. In short, European beheading was a form of execution, while Islamic beheading is savage butchery.

The practice also occurs in South America, where this form of intimidation is now rampant among the drug cartels. It is a little swifter there, being done with a razor-sharp machete. For some years now, it has also been going on in the United States, where law enforcement and the media have conspired to hide it from the public view.

No longer. A prominent Buffalo, New York businessman beheaded his wife last Thursday, as an alternative to allowing her to divorce him. What makes this story especially notable is the nature of his business. Muzzammil Hassan, the murderous husband, is the founder and CEO of Bridges Television, a network founded for the purpose of dispelling violent stereotypes of Muslims!

Orchard Park businessman charged in beheading of wife

Friends expressed shock on Friday that the founder of a Muslim TV channel — which he launched in order to counter violent images of Muslims — has been arrested in his wife’s brutal slaying.

Detectives have charged Muzzammil Hassan, 44, with second-degree murder after his wife was found beheaded Thursday at the offices of the cable channel, Bridges TV, in the Village of Orchard Park.

The victim was identified as Aasiya Z. Hassan, 37….

Aasiya Hassan had filed for divorce and obtained an order of protection on Feb. 6, barring her husband from their home in Orchard Park, police said.

“There had been problems before — there had been prior incidents of physical abuse,” said Corey Hogan, whose law firm, Hogan Willig, represented Aasiya Hassan in the divorce proceeding.

Hogan said discussions were being held about continuing arrangements for the couple’s two children, ages 4 and 6, and two older children, ages 17 and 18, from Muzzammil Hassan’s previous marriage….

The English-language broadcast had the endorsement of prominent American Muslims, including boxing great Muhammad Ali. News and other programs developed by the station were distributed via satellite to cable networks around the country….

Moderate American Muslims are not the only ones who were taken in by the charming and literate Hassan. Our own ADMC western New York reporter knew him and wrote a glowing column about his television venture.

The answer to prejudice and discrimination which can lead to distrust and even hatred is to become familiar with backgrounds and customs. We should take people as they are, without accepting the burden of ignorance in perception.

One such way to become familiar with these customs and attitudes is through a local TV program appropriately called Bridges TV that has its studio in Orchard Park. It is run by a person from Pakistan who wants the American public to know the truth about those who come from the Middle East and South Asia….

Bridges TV is offered on Adelphia Cable as a premium channel, but because of its important messages, should be offered as an educational program and part of the basic package. Since there is a great need to provide information about the customs and cultures of this fast growing segment of our population, it should be offered as a public service. Interested people should contact Adelphia Cable and insist that this program be made available to all subscribers without the extra charge.

To understand what this young mother endured during the last moments of her life, you can view the video below. First seven men are introduced who are about to be decapitated by the Taliban. Then the video shows each killing, performed with a hand-held knife. The video is gruesome, so don’t watch if you are faint of heart.

After you have seen just what is involved, consider the fact that this same cultural expression took place in a pricey upperclass suburb south of Buffalo, a quaint village with authentic colonial houses and a Quaker meeting house still in use that is an icon for American tradition. In fact, it is the village where this writer graduated from high school.

I only wish that this video could be shown to the Hassan jury when the time for his trial comes. His cultural traditions are no excuse, and should not be allowed to mitigate his punishment. He chose to come and live in our country, and should be judged by American standards.