A Brooklyn family with six young children faced a terrifying ordeal when their landlord, Rafiqul Islam, allegedly set their apartment on fire after they fell behind on rent. Andriana Edwards and her family narrowly escaped the blaze by climbing onto the building’s roof and dropping the children to neighbors below. Islam, 66, has been indicted for attempted murder and is being held in Rikers Island.
Edwards and her partner had sensed that something bad was about to happen, especially after Islam made threatening statements about burning down the house. The tension between Edwards and Islam escalated further after the city stopped covering her rent following an inspection revealing a lack of upkeep to the property. Islam treated Edwards’ family poorly, making late-night visits and shutting off her gas and placing a dead cat in the hallway.
The torment didn’t end there. A separate incident occurred in Queens in which Islam’s building caught fire following years behind on rent for other tenants. He tried to collect money from Union Mutual Fire Insurance Company and Community Mutual Insurance Company by misrepresenting details about the building, but the issue was resolved through a confidentiality agreement.
Tenants at Islam’s Queens building made several complaints about various issues, including construction without permits and a shaking and vibrating house. His attempted eviction of Carmen Ibarra and her family also created difficulties as she refused to move out, ultimately leading to a fire that forced them back into the shelter system.
The families have experienced significant trauma and loss as a result of their interactions with Islam. Edwards, Ibarra, and their children suffered emotionally and material loss as a result of encounters with their landlord.
A language barrier may have been at play in the case, leading to unanswered questions. Samantha Chorny, Islam’s defense attorney, believes a lack of understanding due to the language barrier led to the authorities making a premature arrest. Islam’s behavior, targeting families who struggle financially, has created significant harm for these families and has resulted in significant emotional trauma and loss.
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