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U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri Richard Callahan visited the
Islamic Foundation of Greater St. Louis last night to address the fears and
frustrations of Muslim Americans who worry they are being racially profiled
and wiretapped -- and to assure them that the Missouri Legislature's attempts
to ban Sharia law from being considered in state courts here could face
Constitutional challenges.
The tenor of the night was polite and respectful, but several members of the
crowd expressed anger over what they perceive to be rising trends of
Islamophobia in America over the past couple years, citing people burning the
Koran and communities banning mosques as examples.
"There is a worse kind of Muslim hatred recently," said Adil Imdad, one of the
event's organizers. "Especially in the last two years, Islamophobia and fear-
mongering have been spreading like wildfire, and it's causing a lot of stress for
our youth."
Funny thing, Imdad: jihad terrorism and Islamic supremacism are causing
non-Muslim Americans a lot of stress.
The problem is now hitting a little closer to home, said Imdad, pointing to
three bills currently circulating through the state legislature that seek to limit
Sharia law (Islamic law) in Missouri courts. Sharia law could come into play in
rulings considering child custody or prisoner rights for Muslims. As we've
reported, the bills have become a source of controversy.
Zia Faruqui, the Muslim American attorney on the panel, spoke to the crowd
using several Arabic phrases, encouraging them to avoid hiding. He defended
the justice system, citing 50 prosecutions in recent years against people
charged with anti-Muslim crimes.