(SAINT LOUIS, MO, 8/18/17) – The Imam Council on Metropolitan St. Louis (ICMSTL), a council that represents 18 Islamic Centers in the Metropolitan area and the Missouri Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Missouri), a chapter of the largest civil liberties and advocacy organization for Muslims in America, today condemned the terror attack in Barcelona, Spain, that left at least 13 people dead and many more injured.
They also condemned the “Islamophobic” Twitter response to that attack offered by President Trump that included false information.
Trump tweeted, apparently in reaction to the attack in Spain: "Study what General Pershing of the United States did to terrorists when caught. There was no more Radical Islamic Terror for 35 years!"
In a statement, CAIR-Missouri Executive Director Faizan Syed said:
“The Barcelona terror attack is barbaric and we condemn it in the strongest language. We also condemn President Trump’s irresponsible and Islamophobic response to that attack. President Trump claims he needed days to get the ‘facts’ on Charlottesville, and said nothing about the recent bombing of a Minnesota mosque, but tweeted false information within minutes of the Barcelona attack.”
“The President seems intent on defending white supremacy, downplaying his role in empowering hate groups, and promoting anti-Muslim bigotry. This is likely an attempt to distract attention from his response to the domestic terror attack in Charlottesville.”
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“We pray for all those who tragically lost their lives in Barcelona and Charlottesville, and condemn all acts of violence against innocents” said Imam Askia Hameed Imam of Masjid Al-Mu’minun and member of ICMSTL. “It’s tragic that it takes the loss of life for us to wake up and again address racism and discrimination.”
CAIR-Missouri has witnessed an unprecedented increase in hate incidents targeting members of minority groups since the election of Donald Trump and is urging community members to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR-Missouri’s Civil Rights Department at 636-207-8882 or by filing a report at: https://cair-mo.org/civil-rights/file-a-complaint.html
CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Missouri Executive Director Faizan Syed, 636-207-8882, 314-330-2946, E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Imam Askia Hameed, 618-580-8403, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.;