BATON ROUGE, La. — Kareem Badawi, the College of Alabama scholar killed within the New Orleans terrorist assault, was laid to relaxation Friday as his father heartbreakingly recalled how excited his son was to rejoice New Yr’s Eve within the Large Straightforward along with his buddies.
Lots of of mourners, together with a number of of Badawi’s classmates and fraternity brothers, attended the burial service at a maqbara close to the 18-year-old’s Baton Rouge residence.
Following the somber service, Kareem’s father, Belal Badawi, stopped to talk to The Submit about his beloved son’s mindless loss of life.
The grief-stricken dad stated his son traveled greater than an hour away from residence to New Orleans to ring within the new yr with 15 pals within the metropolis famend for its nightlife.
“He thought it’s a big city and New Orleans would have parties … He thought it would be a good idea, and there would be a bigger party than Baton Rouge,” Belal recalled.
“The next day was the Sugar Bowl and he loves sports so he thought New Orleans was the place to be for New Year’s Eve. The New Year’s Eve is not what he expected or planned for and unfortunately he got killed.”
on New Yr’s Day. Obtained by NY Submit
The daddy additionally revealed the heartbreaking remaining textual content messages he exchanged with Kareem.
“From New Orleans, he sent me a Happy New Year text at midnight,” Belal instructed The Submit. “I texted him ‘Happy New Year – dad.’ That was the last message between me and him. Like three hours later he got killed.”
Imam Emad Nofal, chairman of the Islamic Heart Baton Rogue, addressed the congregation and denounced the fear assault through which 13 different folks have been killed by Shamsud-Din Jabbar.
“We are people of peace. I don’t care who has done this. He’s a terrorist and he’s a person who does not belong to Islam, does not understand Islam. Has nothing to do with us,” Emad Nofal stated.
“As you can see, we are the victims here,” he mirrored.
Belal didn’t be taught concerning the Bourbon Road assault till he turned on the information the morning after wishing his son a Glad New Yr’s.
Kareem’s involved dad and mom tracked his cellular phone and noticed that the cellphone’s location was Canal and Bourbon Road.
They then bought some info from Kareem’s 5 pals who have been all staying at an condo close to Bourbon Road.
“After midnight, around 2 a.m., they all went home. Around 2:45 a.m., Kareem and Parker decided to go one more time outside. The other three decided to stay,” Belal instructed The Submit.
Parker was additionally injured within the rampage and is presently within the hospital.
“As a matter of fact, I heard when he heard Kareem passed away he freaked out and some of the stitches came out because he got so crazy,” Belal stated.
Belal lamented that his son, who “just loved life” and “touched so many people’s lives” was killed in a heartless act completed within the title of faith.
Kareem attended the College of Alabama on an engineering scholarship and was a member of the fraternity Sigma Chi. A number of of his classmates and fraternity brothers attended the funeral in Baton Rouge.
“They came from Alabama today just to say goodbye. That tells you how lovely and how nice he was. As a family we are going to miss him a lot,” Belal stated.
“He spent all his life loving people and socializing with friends and all that He’s a lovely boy.” the grieving father stated.
“Killing innocent people is not going to get you anywhere. What message are you going to deliver? Those innocent people have not harmed anybody. They went there to party and celebrate the New Year and he just comes and kills all of them,” he stated of the terrorist.
Household pals instructed The Submit they continue to be in shock and are struggling to return to grips with the tragic occasion.
“It’s so much of a tragedy,” stated 62-year-old Kamal Alabasha, Belal’s finest pal.
“This kid got snatched by evil, and he claims to be a human being but he’s not,” he stated in reference to the terrorist.
