Originally published in NJ Star Ledger When asked if he feels Islam is consistent with the United States Constitution, GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson, a fellow physician, responded, “No I do not. … I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. … I absolutely would not agree with that.” Article VI, paragraph 3 of the U.S. constitution clearly...
Originally published in Salon In his recent anti-Muslim crusade, Ben Carson promoted a disturbing form of religious segregation, claiming that a Muslim should only be president if he or she “renounces the tenets of Islam.” Sadly, just as racial segregationists long garnered votes by promoting fear of black Americans, religious segregationists such as Carson today garner votes by promoting fear...
Originally published in The News and Observer Regarding the Sept. 17 news article “Outcry after Muslim teen is detained over homemade clock”: The possibility of arrest and humiliation, as in the case of high school student Ahmed Mohamed for inventing a clock, has unfortunately become the new normal for the millions of Muslims in the country. It is true that we live in an era of heightened...
Originally published in the Orange County Register As an American Muslim, I was surprised to read presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson’s recent remarks that a Muslim should never be U.S. president. Perhaps Dr. Carson overlooked the fact that the Constitution (Article VI, Clause 3) states that religion should not be a determinant in any public office in the United States. Perhaps he should be...
Originally published in the New York Post I am confused by Republican candidate Ben Carson regarding his comments while he was on NBC’s “Meet the Press” during Sunday’s show. When asked about a Muslim being president, he stated, “I absolutely would not agree with that.” Expressing that a religion cannot be inconsistent with the American principles and values, he further said that Islam is not...
Originally published in The Sacramento Bee Re “Clock clash gets student invited to White House” (Page 10A, Sept. 17): I remember ninth grade very well. I was called a terrorist practically every day. When Osama bin Laden was killed, two kids gave me their condolences by shouting, “Sorry about your grandpa!” But I cannot imagine those Islamophobic sentiments being acted upon by teachers. Ninth...
Originally published in USA Today Over the past few days, we have seen a barrage of insensitive comments come from Republican Party candidates in regard to Islam. The most recent came from Ben Carson who said: “I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I absolutely would not agree with that.” He fails to realize the irony of his statement. His views seem to be...
Originally published in The Longview News Journal Welcome, Francis Catholics in the United States have awaited the arrival of Pope Francis for his first visit. As a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, I welcome the pontiff. We applaud his efforts to bridge gaps between faiths and ethnicities and this is in line with the true teaching of Islam, which the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community...
As an Ahmadi Muslim youth, I wholeheartedly condemn the attack in Garland, for violence has no place in Islam. At the same time, I condemn the disrespectful cartoon drawings of the Prophet Muhammad showed at this event, for hate has no place in civilized society. Islam has never permitted violence in response to blasphemy. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, noted:...
Analysts and researchers have recently begun to study “sacred values” that are basically deeply-rooted ethical or moral precepts that we hold dear regardless of whether they are political, religious or personal. When these values are provoked, even offering incentives to compromise over them is likely to backfire as the victim views an enticement as an affront. The sacred value will...