Local Muslim leaders, including Latifa Jamel (left) of the American Center for Justice; Khalid Alwagdi of the American Moslem Society; Sufian Nabhan of the Islamic Center of Detroit; Imad Hamad, executive director of the American Human Rights Council; Khalid Turaani of the Michigan Task force for Palestine; Imam Dawud Walid of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Michigan Chapter; Imam Omran Salaha of the Islamic Center of Detroit; and Sheikh Ali Suleiman Ali, imam of the Canton Mosque, gather Oct. 16 outside the Dearborn police station to denounce the threats made against Muslims and Arab Americans in the wake of increased violence in the Middle East.
Imad Hamad (at podium), executive director of the American Human Rights Council, speaks Oct. 16 outside the Dearborn police station, denouncing the threats made against Muslims and Arab Americans in the wake of increased violence in the Middle East, as Khalid Alwagdi (left) of the American Moslem Society and Khalid Turaani (right) of the Michigan Task force for Palestine listen.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN – Local activists and Muslim faith leaders spoke Oct 16 outside the Dearborn justice center to denounce threats made and attacks against Arab Americans during heightened violence in the Middle East.
Imad Hamad, executive director of the American Human Rights Council, was joined by Latifa Jamel of the American Center for Justice, Khalid Alwagdi of the American Moslem Society, Sufian Nabhan of the Islamic Center of Detroit, Khalid Turaani of the Michigan Task force for Palestine, Imam Dawud Walid of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Michigan Chapter, Imam Omran Salaha of the Islamic Center of Detroit and Sheikh Ali Suleiman Ali, Imam of the Canton Mosque.
Hamad said he understands that everyone is entitled to express their own views, but Palestinian Americans and other Arab Americans are entitled to live without intimidation or fear, and acts of hate should not be permitted.
“We are all Americans and we enjoy this freedom of expression without being profane,” he said.
Hamad mentioned online threats, which suppress the community at large. He said that targeting any community is un-American.
He thanked Mayor Abdullah Hammoud and the Police Department for their protective vigilance.
One of the speakers mentioned the 6-year-old boy who was stabbed to death Oct. 14 in Chicago by his family’s landlord because he was Muslim, while his mother was seriously injured with multiple stab wounds.