Barack Obama States Anti-Muslim Rhetoric Hurting Sikhs Too

“Just as faith leaders, including Muslims, must speak out when Christians are persecuted around the world or when anti-semitism is on the rise”, he stated, “because the fact is that there are Christians who are targeted now in the middle east despite having been there for centuries, and there are Jews who have lived in places like France for centuries who now feel obliged to leave because they feel themselves under assault-sometimes by Muslims”. And American Muslims are better positioned than anybody to show that it is possible to be faithful to Islam and to be part of a pluralistic society. Americans must speak up when any group is targeted, he added.

Obama, who condemned the suggestion, said that he is “heartbroken” by the “worries and anxieties” of the Muslim community.

“Since 9/11, but more recently, since the attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, you’ve seen too often people conflating the horrific acts of terrorism with the beliefs of an entire faith”.

“Thomas Jefferson’s opponents tried to stir things up by suggesting he was a Muslim, so I was not the first”, said Obama, who has always been accused of secretly being a Muslim, to a roar of laugher. The results of the survey reveal that 51.62% Muslim voters support Hillary Clinton, 22.03% support Bernie Sanders while only 7.47% will vote for Republican candidate Donald Trump. Think about that for a moment, and it’s not hard to see why many Republicans rallied to Donald Trump’s proposed ban on Muslim immigrants.

HORSLEY: Obama also denounced what he called inexcusable political rhetoric that targets Muslim. “We shouldn’t play into terrorist propaganda”.

Polls show millions of Americans still believe, inaccurately, that Obama is a Muslim. “Thank you for lifting up the lives of your neighbors and for helping keep us strong and united as one American family”, said Obama.

HDS: What message does this send about the place of Muslims in America?

Obama also urged the Muslim community to reject extremism and terrorism. “As we protect our country from terrorism, we should not reinforce the ideas and the rhetoric of the terrorists themselves”.

Hours later, Trump was asked to give his thoughts on the Democratic president’s visit during an appearance on Fox News’ “Off the Record with Greta Van Susteren”.

President Barack Obama makes his first visit to a USA mosque, a trip the White House says is aimed at countering rhetoric from Republicans on the presidential campaign trail exploiting some Americans’ fears about Muslims.

“I’m exhausted of being divided against each other for political reasons like this president’s done”, Rubio, a senator from Florida, said at a town hall in New Hampshire. “Always pitting people against each other”, Rubio alleged. It may be because some Americans still think he is a Muslim, and that he can be perceived as partial. “But the bigger issue is radical Islam”, Rubio said.