This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Australia, which closed in 2021.

Trump's Silence On Minnesota Mosque Attack Speaks Volumes

Trump's Silence On Minnesota Mosque Attack Speaks Volumes
[object Object]

Days after an explosion rocked a Minnesota mosque, President Donald Trump has yet to publicly offer his support to the community.

Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center, in Bloomington, was attacked early Saturday morning with what the FBI has called an “improvised explosive device.” No one was hurt, although people were in the building at the time. The explosion shattered windows, damaged the imam’s office and sent smoke throughout the center.

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton (D) called the attack “an act of terrorism.”

Trump has tweeted about a number of things since Saturday. He’s found time to brag about his strategy on North Korea, criticize The New York Times and other media outlets, and bully a Democratic senator. But he hasn’t addressed the explosion in Minnesota.

New York Times correspondent Glenn Thrush reported that he received this email from the White House on the Minnesota attack: “The President has been and is continuing to be updated and we are monitoring [the] situation for now.” (HuffPost requested comment from the White House press office, but has not heard back.)

The president’s silence this week isn’t surprising. Dozens of U.S. mosques have been targeted with threats, vandalism or arson since the beginning of the year, and Trump has yet to offer a word of condolence or comfort to American Muslims, who are concerned about their place in society and the safety of their places of worship.

American Muslims were quick to note Trump’s silence on Twitter.

“President Trump has to date not expressed any significant opposition to Americans turning on Americans of the Islamic faith,” said Corey Saylor, who monitors Islamophobia for the Council on American-Islamic Relations. “Through his Muslims ban and comments from the campaign trail, he has instead painted the entire American Muslim community as suspect.”

CAIR has tracked more than 50 publicly reported incidents of anti-mosque activity within the first six months of 2017. That number increases to around 85 when reports from people who ask to remain anonymous are factored in, Saylor told HuffPost.

These incidents include violent attacks, vandalism, acts of intimidation, and opposition to mosque expansion or construction due to religious bias. Burned Qurans have been left on mosque property and bacon draped on door handles. The buildings have been set on fire. In June, a congregant was reportedly shot in the foot by a pellet gun outside a New York mosque.

Since 2016, CAIR has been tracking a dramatic spike in anti-Muslim hate crimes overall.

Madihha Ahussain, a staff attorney at the legal group Muslim Advocates, said attacks like the one that happened in Minnesota are sending waves of fear through Muslim communities across the country.

“As these incidents continue to increase, the American Muslim community lives in greater fear for its safety,” Ahussain said. “Every American has the right to go with their family to services of their chosen faith, but the current climate makes many religious groups, including Muslims and Sikhs, fearful of doing that.”

American Muslims have been responding to the mosque attacks by working with law enforcement to add extra layers of security around their houses of worship. Mosques are also joining locally with interfaith partners to promote messages of peace and understanding.

Rabiah Ahmed, media director for the Muslim Public Affairs Council, said it’s “critical” that Trump become more vocal in condemning hate crimes ― and that such support extend beyond a single tweet.

“This has to be reflected in his policies around hate crimes and American Muslims,” she told HuffPost.

But other American Muslim activists aren’t holding their breath for a statement from Trump. Saylor pointed out that President George W. Bush visited a mosque days after the Sept. 11 attacks to urge Americans not to turn on one another. Trump, however, has made comments like “I think Islam hates us.”

“What for him is a tool for scoring political points has real-life consequences for people who choose to pray in mosques,” Saylor said.

“I think President Trump’s moment to be seen as a unifier has passed,” he added.

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Australia. Certain site features have been disabled. If you have questions or concerns, please check our FAQ or contact support@huffpost.com.