Loading ...Muslims in Michigan defend Gold Star family feuding with Donald Trump
Niraj Warikoo
Detroit Free Press
As a Muslim woman with relatives serving in the U.S. military, Sumaiya Ahmed of Rochester recognizes the importance of protecting the country.
“We’re here to protect it, to protect American people,” said Ahmed, 25, a director with Michigan Muslim Community Council who has cousins serving in the U.S. Navy and Air Force. “This is our home, and we’re going to defend it just like everyone else.”
And so when Ahmed and other Muslims across Michigan heard about Trump and his supporters attacking the family of Capt. Humayun Khan, a soldier killed in Iraq, they were outraged. At the same time, they hope the debate between the Khan family and Trump in recent days will spotlight the contributions of Muslim Americans, including those in the military. Michigan has a long history of Muslim Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, from World War II to the Vietnam War to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. A native of Dearborn who is Muslim, retired Marines Sgt. Jamal Baadani, founded the Association of Patriotic Arab Americans in the Military (APAAM) for those who’ve served in the U.S. armed forces.
“Trump’s comparison of his ‘sacrifice’ to this country by amassing personal wealth versus the Khans’ sacrifice of their son is outright disgusting,” said Muna Jondy, an Arab American and Muslim advocate in Flint. “He could’ve gone another route to keep up his anti-Muslim rhetoric but instead chose to disrespect and dishonor the service and sacrifice of a military Gold Star family (those who have lost a family member in the military). It’s unforgivable.”
What also concerns Jondy and other Muslims is Trump’s questioning of Khan’s mother, Ghazala Khan, because she stood silently while her husband attacked Trump last week at the Democratic National Convention. Ghazala Khan later explained that she didn’t speak because she was distraught over her son’s death and spoke up in interviews and an op-ed. Muslims saw Trump’s remarks as another bigoted attack.
In response on Monday, Muslim women such as Jondy and others created the hashtag #CanYouHearUsNow on Twitter to showcase the contributions of Muslim-American women, producing more than 20,000 tweets in just a few hours. Muslims in Michigan played a key role in the effort on Monday to highlight Muslim women on social media.
“All Americans should be offended by the disregard and disrespect Mr. Trump showed the Khan family and the deceased Capt. H. Khan, who gave his life for our nation,” said Suehaila Amen, an Arab American and Muslim advocate in Dearborn Heights. ” His attribution of her silence to an unfounded notion that Muslim women are unable to speak without permission is disrespectful and further proves his misogyny and inability to comprehend the reality of women, Muslim or otherwise, and their contributions to global society. Women have been leading global nations, advancing successful businesses and making positive contributions to the global community long before Trump’s existence. ”
As part of the #CanYouHearUsNow effort, Amen tweeted about her speaking around the globe. In one tweet, she wrote “This Muslim woman @StateDept with @GlobalTiesUS speaking at conference-they enjoyed my speaking! #CanYouHearUsNow”
Amen said that Trump’s “narcissism and inability to empathize with Gold Star families and humanity in general is a black stain on his record and shows he is unfit for this position. Given his misogynistic, bigoted, and racist comments throughout his campaign, along with his immature and inappropriate responses to situations, it is not surprising that someone like him would disrespect a woman whose mere appearance on the DNC platform was more presidential than he could ever be.”
In tweets, Trump continued to attack the father, Khizr Khan. Some of Trump’s supporters asserted, without any evidence, that the late Captain Khan was secretly an Islamist trying to hurt the U.S.
Trump tweeted Monday morning: “Mr. Khan, who does not know me, viciously attacked me from the stage of the DNC and is now all over T.V. doing the same – Nice!”
On Monday, several Republicans spoke up against Trump and defended Khan, including Sen. John McCain and Texas Governor Greg Abbott. A message left on Monday for the Trump campaign in Michigan was not returned. A spokesman for Gov. Rick Snyder declined comment.
Sarah Anderson, communications director for the Michigan Republican Party, slammed Trump’s comments, saying in a statement: “Captain Khan was a hero. The Michigan Republican Party is thankful to the Khan family, and to all of the others who so selflessly defend our country and our freedom in the United States military. Those who make the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation and their families deserve honor, respect, and appreciation. We disagree with any statements or implications to the contrary.”
Fatima Salman, a board member of the Michigan Muslim Community Council from West Bloomfield, said the #CanYouHearUsNow effort came about after a discussion among Muslim female activists on how to respond to Trump.
“We decided to let him — and all those who follow him — hear us, know us, and know that we are not silent, nor will we be silenced to speak the truth,” Salman said.
Dr. Mansoor Qureshi, president of the Michigan chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of metro Detroit, said that Trump’s remarks are the latest painful attack on the community during this presidential campaign. Last year, Trump called for banning the entry of all Muslims into the U.S. amid concerns about terrorism.
Qureshi said that Islam teaches that Muslims should be loyal to the country they live in and strongly condemns terrorism.
“We as Muslims believe that love of our homeland is part our faith,” Qureshi said. “We proudly serve our community.”
In metro Detroit, Ahmadiyya Muslims held their annual Muslims for Loyalty campaign last month, taking part in July 4th events and parades, handing out American flags in Oakland County. On Sept. 11, they will once again have a blood drive as they mourn the victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks.
Qureshi said that the attacks on the soldier’s family, especially his mother, was painful to see.
“Respect all our soldiers who are fighting for our country, regardless of their religion,” Qureshi said. “We’re all Americans, regardless of our faith, the way we worship.”
Source: www.freep.com