ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WIVB) - The horrific death of an Orchard Park woman has touched lives around the world, and the crime is also raising more awareness of domestic violence.
Tributes to Aasiya Hassan fill a Facebook page created by her sister.
“Your laugh cold make the whole world smile...”
“She looked out for us like a mom while we were just kids so far away from home...”
Her beauty, stature in the community, and the Muslim Cable Network she launched with her husband, Muzzammil, now accused of taking her life, make it so hard to accept her murder.
Ingrid Mattson (Islamic Society of North America) said, “We know that this can happen in any family, in any place in the country, that no religious community, no ethnic community, is immune from this.”
There is a police history of abuse by Muzzammil Hassan against his wife, who had three orders of protection at different times, but never tried to leave the marriage, until it was too late.
It is a response all too familiar to those who deal with abused women.
Sharon Wroblewski said, “Because of the fear of losing the house, the family income. Things could get worse if you do make him mad like that.”
Wroblewski, who runs the Kathleen Mary House in the Southtowns, knows from experience that women must have the courage to leave a bad situation.
Sharon decided to leave her abusive husband when her son was injured protecting her.
Wroblewski said, “The last time for me was when my son lost his first tooth protecting me. That was my last time, ya know, so everyone has their own last time.”
News 4’s Rich Newberg called Orchard Park Police to learn more about the orders of protection, but they were not talking.
Sharon Wroblewski says women will often make the move, to protect their children.
Sources tell News 4 Aasiya Hassan had three children in the car waiting for her at the time she was murdered.
