BUFFALO, N.Y., Feb. 15 (UPI) -- Authorities in Buffalo, N.Y., say a man accused of beheading his wife had founded a Muslim TV channel to counter violent images of Muslims.
Muzzammil Hassan, 44, was charged with second-degree murder after the body of his wife, Aasiya Z. Hassan, 37, was found in the offices of the cable channel, Bridges TV, in the village of Orchard Park, The Buffalo (N.Y.) News reported.
The victim had filed for divorce Feb. 6 and obtained an order of protection against her husband, who surrendered to police Thursday night after the slaying was discovered, The New York Post reported Sunday.
With encouragement from his wife, Muzzammil Hassan launched Bridges TV in 2004 to dispel stereotypes of Muslims as terrorists and balance images of Muslim extremism with moderate viewpoints, said friends of the couple.
The couple had two children, ages 4 and 6, and Muzzammil Hassan had two children, ages 17 and 18, from a previous marriage.
"I am totally stunned," said Samira Khatib, a friend of the family. "They were really more than married -- they encouraged each other in everything."
