Mohamed-Aslim Zafis spent his last hours as he did countless ones before — volunteering at a northwest Toronto mosque in Canada and helping those in need.
Zafis, 58, was remembered by friends and family at his funeral on Wednesday as a “kind, gentle soul” who, even on the day he was killed, handed out food to the hungry and worked to keep his fellow worshippers safe.
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Several hundred mourners gathered in the parking lot of the International Muslim Organization in Etobicoke to say goodbye to Zafis, just metres away from where he was stabbed to death on Saturday evening.
The attack — which police have said bears many similarities to another killing just days earlier — happened as Zafis was controlling entry to the mosque.
Giving food was important Zafis, his friends said.
He spent years volunteering at a nearby food bank, preparing hampers for the hungry, Imam Ayman Taher said.
The head of the Toronto police homicide squad said Monday they have no evidence Zafis’s killing was motivated by hate, but acknowledged it is a possibility.
Insp. Hank Idsinga also said police cannot discount the homicide could be the work of a serial killer.
The mosque has urged its worshippers to remain vigilant of their surroundings.
“No one can intimidate us and prevent us from attending our place of worship,” Taher said.
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