Turning to extremist groups such as IS and what he characterised as perverted versions of Islam portrayed by them, Mr Obama urged regular Muslims to “show who you are”. That address is expected to focus on religious tolerance and the contributions Muslims have made to the country.
Advertisement
President Barack Obama has sought to reassure the Muslim community amid an “inexcusable political rhetoric against Muslim-Americans” that has seen Sikh Americans and others who are perceived to be Muslims targeted as well.
What do you think about President Barack Obama’s visit to the American mosque? Mr. Obama has been highly critical of both presidential candidates for proposing a ban on Muslim immigrants or a religious test for Syrian refugees entering the U.S.
“We never thought that when we held our first prayers in the small room almost a half a century ago that we would be hosting the president”, said Muhammad Jameel, the mosque’s president. Over 3 million Americans are Muslim, and that number is growing.
On Wednesday, Obama said: “An attack on one faith is an attack on all our faiths”. On Wednesday, Trump told Fox News that Obama visited the mosque because “maybe he feels comfortable there” while Rubio said the visit was an example of “pitting people against each other”.
“As we go forward, I want every Muslim American to remember that…Your fellow Americans stand with you”, Obama said and assured the young Muslim Americans, that, “you are not Muslim or American”.
“Recently, we’ve heard inexcusable political rhetoric against Muslim Americans that has no place in our country”, Obama said. He says Muslims help keep America a strong, united country and noted that an attack on the Muslim faith in America is an “attack on all faiths”. It’s about being a leader for the people of all religions. “I am in good company”.
Advertisement
Funnily enough, Obama even joked about the Obama-is-a-Muslim conspiracy theory, saying that he was not the only victim of such rumours. And in December, a Castro Valley woman allegedly threw coffee in the face of a Muslim man who was praying at Lake Chabot Regional Park.
