Source: Syracuse.com
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s call for banning Muslims from entering the United States is “surprising and disheartening,” according to one Syracuse Muslim leader.
“It goes against everything the U.S. stands for,” said Yusuf Soule, member of the North Side mosque Masjid Isa Ibn Maryam and a member of the Islamic Society of Central New York. “What happened to the Constitution and religious freedom?”
Soule said he’s extremely disappointed in Trump’s call to implement a ban, but encouraged by other presidential candidates’ and many others who are upset over the outspoken candidates’ remarks.
Trump’s call to block Muslim from entering the United States came after President Barack Obama’s speech on efforts to stop terrorism following the deadly attack in San Bernardino, Calif. The president also stressed that people shouldn’t target all Muslims due to the acts of a few radicalized Muslims.
Another local Muslim leader, Muhammed Iqbal, agreed with Soule. Iqbal is president of the Syracuse chapter of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, which has a mosque in East Syracuse.
“This kind of discrimination is counterproductive,” Iqbal said, “and really disappointing. Collective punishment like that makes no sense, and has no place in civilized American culture.”
Iqbal said fighting extremists with extremism like Trump’s proposed ban is illogical.
Trump plays on people’s emotions and preys on their fear, and that’s why his supporters side with him, Iqbal said.
“We need to focus on tolerance, education and compassion,” he said.
Local Muslims have condemned the recent acts of violence, Iqbal said.
Iqbal says his mosque is holding a prayer vigil for San Bernandino victims at 12:30 p.m. Sunday and a blood drive with the American Red Cross on Dec. 20 at the Central New York Regional Market.
Categories: Ahmadiyyat: True Islam, America, The Muslim Times, United States