The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil right and advocacy organization, today welcomed the expressed remorse of an individual who planned to protest the Muslim community in Dearborn.
Anthony Hudson, a truck driver from Grand Blanc Township, previously planned a protest to take place this week in Dearborn dubbing it an “American Crusade” against “Muslim infiltration” and “Sharia law.”
SEE: GOP gubernatorial candidate stokes anti-Muslim hate ahead of ‘American Crusade’ rally in Dearborn (Detroit Metro Times)
After visiting three mosques in the Dearborn area late last week, Hudson publicly stated at the Islamic Institute of America that there are many false and misleading narratives about Dearborn being spread and that all he found from Muslims there was hospitality. Hudson further stated that he was opposed to outsiders coming to Dearborn with plans to burn the Qur’an.
SEE: Video of Comments of Anthony Hudson at IIA (TCD News)
SEE: GOP candidate admits he was wrong about Muslims, calls off ‘American Crusade’ march in Dearborn (Detroit Metro Times)
“We welcome Mr. Hudson’s remorse for his admitted fearmongering against the Dearborn community and American Muslims in general,” said CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid. “We invite him to further discussions to learn about the Islamic faith and what Muslims generally believe counter to false narratives and misinformation perpetuated by those with political agendas.”
Walid noted that Sharia or Islamic sacred law guides traditional Muslims in their daily faith practices just as Jewish and Catholic Americans adhere to certain dietary, marital, and other codes of conduct in their family lives and business transactions based upon the Torah, Talmud, and the Bible. He further noted that Sharia as a concept has been misunderstood and falsely deployed as a means of otherizing Muslims in society.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid, 248-842-1418, dwalid@cair.com; CAIR Lead Staff Attorney Amy Doukoure, 586-943-8823, adoukoure@cair.com