A tragic stabbing in southwest Houston has taken the life of a 34-year-old Afghan translator and father of five, Abdul Rahman Niazi. Details emerged following 37-year-old Massiullah Sahil's court appearance today, where KHOU 11 reported his bond was set at $750,000. Sahil, who faced first-degree murder charges, admitted to brutally stabbing Niazi multiple times over frustrations with delays in his refugee status approval.
Investigators told both Click2Houston and KHOU 11 that the victim suffered over 20 deep stab wounds. Abdul Niazi, who was respected as a community pillar, was attacked while in his office. Despite his disability from losing his legs in combat, Niazi had become known for his efforts to assist other Afghan refugees in the Houston area.
The discovery of the gruesome scene followed a worrisome sign when Niazi did not show up for a scheduled appointment, as recounted by his friends and family. Sahil entered Niazi’s office on Harwin Drive, where surveillance footage recorded his bloody exit, according to court records. The reality of the crime was shockingly confirmed when Niazi's wife received a call from Sahil, who admitted to the murder and asked for forgiveness, "He picked up the phone and said, ‘I killed your husband, please forgive me,’" Rizwanullah Niazi, the cousin of the deceased, told Click2Houston.
Niazi was a devoted husband and father, with children ages 2 to 10, leaving behind a family and community in mourning. A close friend conveyed to KHOU 11 that "He was a very devoted father, husband" and "He was a very kind-hearted person and he recently opened an office to help Afghan refugees." A GoFundMe has been established to support the Niazi family in the wake of this tragedy. Niazi's funeral is set for tomorrow afternoon, marking the somber farewell to a man who had already given much in service to his adopted country.
