Members of the Council of Mosques and several other Ohio Muslim organizations gave a press conference in Cleveland’s First Cleveland Mosque Wednesday to protest against the "backlash" they claim to be suffering in the wake of Islamic terror attacks in Paris and the United States.
Breitbart reports that the groups claimed that bias against Muslims is “racist” and “Islamophobic,” and that they are facing increased hate crimes and a “backlash” since the terror attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California - even though according to the FBI’s hate crime statistics, only 13.7 percent of hate crimes were perpetrated against Muslims. On the other hand, fully 60.3 percent were committed against Jews.
“Extremists are the root of these problems and the Muslim community is paying for it,” Abbas Ahmad, the Imam of First Cleveland Mosque, said during the press event. “There are 1.6 billion Muslims around the world and 1.6 billion Muslims should not be blamed for acts by a few so-called Muslims."
Sarah Mohammad, VP of the Muslim Student Association at Cleveland State University, said, “My faith does not support these unjustified actions committed by extremists. It’s frustrating to continuously apologize for crimes committed by individuals whom are halfway around the world. Why must I be profiled just because I’m Muslim?”
First of all, these "crimes" are being committed not halfway around the world, but all over the world, including within America's borders. And the reason you're profiled because you're Muslim is that your fellow co-religionists are at war with non-Muslims. If you don't like being viewed with suspicion, blame the terrorists in your midst.
Predictably, the speakers trashed Republican presidential frontrunner candidate Donald Trump for his "anti-Muslim" rhetoric: “Many of the statements by our presidential candidates have been fueling nothing but hate and racism against one another,” complained Ahmad. “We also urge political leaders to refrain from engaging in dangerous and divisive anti-Muslim rhetoric that undermines our country’s values and harms the fabric of our diverse society.”
Ahmed went on to claim that the way to beat terrorism was to make Americans understand Islam and to help them learn more about Muslims. On this point he's absolutely right, but not in the way he meant.
