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A Muslim-American student pushed the issue of Islamophobia in the US into the spotlight last week, when she asked Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders to address the subject before an audience of hundreds at George Mason University.
Remaz Abdelgader, a senior at GMU, in Virginia, wanted to know more about Sanders’ stance on what she called “the growing Islamophobia in this country”.
“If you look at all the Republican candidates,” she said, “in order to feed into their constituents, they’re talking about Islamophobia and they’re constantly bashing Muslims in the media ... Ben Carson, Donald Trump, the biggest bigots.”
Abdelgader was interrupted by thunderous cheers. Sanders waved her on to the stage and embraced her, before she continued.
“As an American Muslim student who aspires to change this world,” she said, “hearing the rhetoric that’s going on in the media makes me sick … I’m constantly trying to raise awareness and make sure that everyone is treated equally in this country. So to the next president of the United States, what do you think about that?”
Sanders’ response lasted several minutes.
“Our job is to build a nation in which we all stand together as one people,” he said. “And you are right. There is a lot of anger being generated, hatred being generated against Muslims in this country … There is hatred being generated against immigrants in this country.
“And if we stand for anything, we have got to stand together and end all forms of racism and I will lead that effort as president of the United States.”
Sanders’ comments about marijuana at the event made headlines, but the video of Abdelgader’s question struck a chord on social media. A video of the exchange on Sanders’ Facebook page has been viewed nearly 300,000 times; a video posted by AJ+ has been shared by more than 8,000 users.
“This wasn’t just a question that I had, this spoke to the reality of so many Muslims across America,” Abdelgader said. “I’m taking back my story, our story, for hundreds and thousands of Muslims in America. I’m speaking to create this change.”
The issue of Islamophobia in the US did make headlines in September, after the arrest of Ahmed Mohamed, a 14-year-old high school student in Texas whose homemade clock was mistaken for a bomb by teachers. Democratic presidential candidates were quick to express support.
“Assumptions and fear don’t keep us safe – they hold us back. Ahmed, stay curious and keep building,” Hillary Clinton tweeted.
“Ahmed, you will be a fine engineer one day. Please do not let this incident hold you back,” Martin O’Malley responded to one of the boy’s own tweets.
Ben Carson, however, set the tone among Republicans when around the same time he said a Muslim could not be president of the US. A week later, under pressure for his remarks, he said a theoretical Muslim president would have to “subjugate” his or her beliefs in order to hold the job.
Donald Trump, meanwhile, drew ire after failing to correct a questioner at a town hall who said: “We have a problem in this country, it’s called Muslims. We know our current president is one.” Trump refused to apologize.
Abdelgader, who came to the US from Sudan when she was six, said she spoke up because she felt it was necessary to push back against such rhetoric.
“At what point are you going to consider me American enough?” she said. “And why should I feel as an American citizen that I must always try to get another person to validate my identity? Why can’t I just be me, and be accepted, for the identity I claim?”
She said she was thrilled with Sanders’ condemnation of bigotry, saying the Vermont senator was now her “hero”.
Sanders’ remarks received approval from Muslim advocates in the US.
“I think that in putting Islamophobia in the context of racism, because he pledged to eliminate racism and bigotry, that yes, he had a good response,” said Robert McCaw, government affairs manager at the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
“A lot of points to Bernie Sanders. It shouldn’t be such a courageous act, but it is.”
Mohammad Khan, secretary for the Muslim Democratic Club of New York, said: “We welcome Bernie’s comments. We appreciate the show of solidarity.
“However, we do feel he could have said a little more, gone a little further. He mentioned broadly standing against racism, against bigotry; that’s something we applaud and appreciate.
“He didn’t specifically address Islamophobia. He didn’t directly address the comments by Trump and Carson. That’s something we would have liked to hear.”
In September, Sanders did address Islamophobia and Trump directly, after Mohammed’s arrest made headlines.
Using Twitter, he said: “The ridiculous arrest of Ahmed and awful comments at @realDonaldTrump’s rally show us we must stand strong against anti-Muslim bigotry.”
Yet like Khan, McCaw said words were not enough. He hoped Sanders’ words would be backed up with action by him and other candidates.
“It’s great that the candidate fielded a question from a Muslim woman and invited one up on stage,” McCaw said. “What would be better is if candidates would embrace Muslims, meet them at their houses of worship and Islamic community centers, sit down with Muslim leaders and hear what their issues are. And do so in a public fashion.”
Khan said: “Condemning racism and bigotry should be the floor for all candidates. It shouldn’t be the ceiling.”
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