The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on Utah State Rep. Trevor Lee to meet with Muslim community members after a video he posted led to a wave of anti-Muslim backlash.
On X, Rep. Lee posted a video of a group of Shia Muslims in Taylorsville commemorating Arba’in, which marks the end of the 40 days of mourning for the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, Hussein. He later replied to his own post saying “not a single American flag in sight.” The post was met with numerous anti-Muslim responses.
“I wasn’t really trying to convey anything other than that is an interesting video,” Lee said in an interview. “This is small-town Taylorsville, Utah, and I’ve never seen this in my life before.” “What I find interesting, though, is the assumptions both sides are making, whether it’s the right or the left,” Lee said. “I think it’s crazy. I haven’t insinuated anything.”
The Alrasool Islamic Center said that Rep. Lee and other lawmakers are welcome to visit and meet with community members to get a better understanding of the faith.
SEE: Lawmaker posts clip of Utah Muslims observing Arba’in. Then came the Islamophobia.
“It is important for elected officials to know and understand all segments of their constituencies. We encourage Representative Lee to take up the Muslim community on its offer to meet with them and build greater understanding,” said CAIR Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor.
He noted that from January to June 2024, CAIR documented 4,951 incoming complaints, a sixty-nine percent increase over the same period in 2023.
SEE: New CAIR Data Shows Anti-Muslim, Anti-Palestinian Hate Remain Elevated in First Half of 2024
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com