Rising islamophobia in USA

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IslamophobiaRepublican ConventionTexasMuslim communitypolitical rhetoric

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The speaker describes returning from the Republican Convention in Texas and being shocked by the level of open hostility towards Muslims, which was not a fringe issue but expressed by almost every delegate they spoke to, as well as by politicians. When names like Ilhan Omar or Abdul El-Sayed were mentioned, the crowd erupted, and Tom Emmer was noted as targeting three left-wing Democrats who all happened to be Muslim. The message conveyed was: 'If you don't love this country, if you don't love America, if you're not happy here, then get the hell out.' The speaker then recounts meeting Pastor Lorenzo Sewell, a rising Republican star who prayed at Donald Trump's inauguration. Sewell said he loved Muslims but then argued that just as he wouldn't practice Christianity in an Islamic country, non-Christians have no place in a Christian-run country. The report shifts to Dallas, where Dr. Yasir Qadhi, who runs a mosque, says Islamophobia is now worse than after 9/11, describing a father targeted after walking into the mosque with his seven-year-old daughter, falsely claimed to be his wife, in an attack seen by 5 million people. The speaker also highlights misconceptions about Sharia law and the Muslim population, noting that one person guessed Muslims were 30% of the state when it is actually 1%, and that the person was fine with that once corrected. The transcript offers a direct look at political rhetoric, its impact on Muslim communities, and the gap between perception and reality.

Key Points

A first-hand report from the Republican Convention in Texas, where the journalist found open hostility towards Muslims coming from delegates and politicians alike. It also features voices from the Muslim community in Dallas, including Dr. Yasir Qadhi, who says the current Islamophobia feels worse than the post-9/11 spike.

Summary

The speaker describes returning from the Republican Convention in Texas and being shocked by the level of open hostility towards Muslims, which was not a fringe issue but expressed by almost every delegate they spoke to, as well as by politicians. When names like Ilhan Omar or Abdul El-Sayed were mentioned, the crowd erupted, and Tom Emmer was noted as targeting three left-wing Democrats who all happened to be Muslim. The message conveyed was: 'If you don't love this country, if you don't love America, if you're not happy here, then get the hell out.' The speaker then recounts meeting Pastor Lorenzo Sewell, a rising Republican star who prayed at Donald Trump's inauguration. Sewell said he loved Muslims but then argued that just as he wouldn't practice Christianity in an Islamic country, non-Christians have no place in a Christian-run country. The report shifts to Dallas, where Dr. Yasir Qadhi, who runs a mosque, says Islamophobia is now worse than after 9/11, describing a father targeted after walking into the mosque with his seven-year-old daughter, falsely claimed to be his wife, in an attack seen by 5 million people. The speaker also highlights misconceptions about Sharia law and the Muslim population, noting that one person guessed Muslims were 30% of the state when it is actually 1%, and that the person was fine with that once corrected. The transcript offers a direct look at political rhetoric, its impact on Muslim communities, and the gap between perception and reality.

Key takeaways

At the Republican Convention in Texas, the speaker observed open hostility towards Muslims from almost every delegate they spoke to and from politicians, indicating it is not a fringe issue.
When names like Ilhan Omar or Abdul El-Sayed were mentioned, the crowd erupted; Tom Emmer targeted three left-wing Democrats who were all Muslim.
A clear message was expressed: 'If you don't love this country, if you don't love America, if you're not happy here, then get the hell out.'
Pastor Lorenzo Sewell, who prayed at Donald Trump's inauguration, said he loved Muslims but argued that non-Christians have no place in a Christian-run country.
Dr. Yasir Qadhi in Dallas says the current Islamophobia is worse than the spike after 9/11, describing a father whose seven-year-old daughter was falsely claimed to be his wife in a viral attack seen by 5 million people.
Misconceptions about Sharia law and the Muslim population persist; one person guessed Muslims were 30% of the state when they are actually 1%.
When informed that Muslims are only 1% of the state, the person said, 'I'm fine with that,' suggesting that accurate information can reduce hostility.

Full article

Open Hostility at the Republican Convention

I've just come back from the Republican Convention in Texas, and I was really shocked by the level of open hostility towards Muslims. I was also shocked by where it was coming from. This was not a fringe issue. Almost every Republican delegate I spoke to expressed some form of it, and we certainly heard it from politicians as well. When names like Ilhan Omar or Abdul El-Sayed were mentioned, the crowd erupted. Tom Emmer would argue that he was targeting three very left-wing Democrats, but all three of them happened to be Muslim.

One message was clear: "If you don't love this country, if you don't love America, if you're not happy here, then get the hell out."

A Pastor's Contradiction

Then I met Pastor Lorenzo Sewell, a rising star of the Republican Party, who prayed at Donald Trump's inauguration. He began by saying he loved Muslims, but then quickly pivoted. I asked him, "Do you actually think there's no place for people who are not Christian in this country?" He replied, "I believe just like me. If you take the same logic, I'm not going to go and go into an Islamic country and practice my Christianity. Isn't a Christian run country? Yes it is." I was pretty taken aback by that.

The Impact on Muslim Communities

The political rhetoric was really being felt by Muslims. I met elsewhere in Dallas. Doctor Yasir Qadhi runs this mosque. He was born and raised in America, and he says the Islamophobia right now is even worse than the spike that took place after 9/11. "We have never felt as intimidated, and we've never felt the level of hostility that we are currently facing right now." He told me about one father who was targeted after walking into the mosque with his seven-year-old daughter. Someone claimed that the little girl was actually his wife, an attack that went viral. Doctor Qadhi said it was seen by 5 million people. "The guy had almost like, I don't want to call it a heart attack, but he had like a panic attack because it's his seven-year-old daughter."

And that wasn't the only rumor that didn't stack up. People were talking a lot about Sharia law, thinking that it had actually been implemented in some American states. "They just wanted interior law so they can marry little girls and have all the women dress covered up. I don't think it's a religion. To me, the way I see it, it's more of a cult."

Misconceptions About the Muslim Population

What proportion of this state do you think is Muslim? I will probably maybe 30%. So it's actually 1%. Does that surprise you? It's only 1%. I mean, what I see on TV and everything, it seems to be like more. But if it's 1%, I'm fine with that. I've just come.

Topics#Islamophobia#Republican Convention#Texas#Muslim community#political rhetoric#misconceptions#United States

Transcript

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0:00 I've just come back from the Republican convention in Texas, and I was really shocked by the level of open hostility towards Muslims.

0:09 I was also shocked by where it was coming from.

0:11 This was not a fringe issue.

0:12 Almost every Republican delegate I spoke to expressed some form of it, and we certainly heard it from politicians as well.

0:22 Ilhan Omar, you can even choose to listen to Abdul El-Sayed.

0:28 The crowd erupted at that.

0:30 Tom Emmer would argue that he was targeting three very left wing Democrats, but all three of them happened to be Muslim.

0:37 If you don't love this country, if you don't love America, if you're not happy here, then get the hell out.

0:43 Then I met Pastor Lorenzo Sewell, a rising star of the Republican Party, who prayed at Donald Trump's inauguration.

0:51 Enough is enough.

0:54 He began by saying he loved Muslims, but then quickly pivoted.

0:59 Do you actually think there's no place for people who are not Christian in this country?

1:04 I believe just like me.

1:05 If you take the same logic, I'm not going to go and go into an Islamic country and practice my Christianity.

1:14 Isn't a Christian run country.

1:16 Yes it is.

1:17 I was pretty taken aback by that, and the political rhetoric was really being felt by Muslims.

1:23 I met elsewhere in Dallas.

1:25 Doctor Yasir Qadhi runs this mosque.

1:27 He was born and raised in America, and he says the Islamophobia right now is even worse than the spike that took place after nine over 11.

1:36 We have never felt as intimidated, and we've never felt the level of hostility that we are currently facing right now.

1:46 He told me about one father who was targeted after walking into the mosque with his seven year old daughter.

1:53 Someone claimed that the little girl was actually his wife, an attack that went viral.

1:59 Doctor Cardi said it was seen by 5 million people.

2:02 The guy had almost like, I don't want to call it a heart attack, but he had like a panic attack because it's his seven year old daughter.

2:08 And that wasn't the only rumor that didn't stack up.

2:10 People were talking a lot about Sharia law, thinking that it had actually been implemented in some American states.

2:17 They just wanted interior law so they can marry little girls and have all the women dress covered up.

2:23 I don't think it's a religion.

2:25 To me, the way I see it, it's more of a cult.

2:29 What proportion of this state do you think is Muslim?

2:32 I will probably maybe 30%.

2:35 So it's actually 1%.

2:37 Does that surprise you?

2:39 It's only 1%.

2:40 I mean, what I see on TV and everything, it seems to be like more.

2:45 But if it's 1%, I'm fine with that.

2:52 I've just come.

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