Obama Makes First Visit to US Mosque

During remarks Wednesday at the Islamic Society of Baltimore, the president thanked Muslim Americans for helping to build the USA and make it strong.

Obama’s visit to a Baltimore mosque Wednesday was his first visit to a mosque during his presidency, and he took the time to chide the “inexcusable” anti-Islamic rhetoric that’s boiled up recently.

JONATHAN ERNST/REUTERS Obama also said he had heard from many young Muslim-Americans who were afraid they would be kicked out of the USA after hearing the promises of Donald Trump during his campaign.

The President yesterday sought to correct what he called a “hugely distorted impression” of Muslim Americans as he made his first visit to a USA mosque since being elected.

Referring to the recent attacks on Muslim Americans, Obama said since 9/11, but more recently since the attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, they have seen too often people conflating the horrific acts of terrorism with the beliefs of an entire faith.

Attendees at the Baltimore mosque are predominantly of Turkish heritage, although immigrants of other nationalities also participate, said Akbar Ahmed, an Islamic studies specialist at American University who has researched mosques around the U.S.

In July, Trump said he was still not convinced Obama was born in the United States.

For Muslim advocates, Obama’s visit was a long-awaited gesture to a community that has warned of escalating vitriol against them that has accompanied the public’s concern about the Islamic State and other terrorist groups. “The president said we are Muslims and Americans, and we are part of the fabric of society”.

“This is not a new thing”, he added, “generations of Muslim Americans helped to build our nation”. “Look it up – I’m in good company”. He noted that founding father Thomas Jefferson specifically mentioned Muslims when he spoke about the American right to freedom of religion.

Responding to some claims that a former imam at the mosque had ties to extremist groups, Earnest said he is not surprised that political opponents stepped forward to protest the visit.

The Pew survey also found that six out of 10 Americans believe there to be “a lot” of discrimination against Muslims in the United States, and 76 percent think discrimination is growing.