Zuhdi Jasser: Don’t let the Khan Family’s Sacrifice be Used as a Political Wedge
Phoenix, AZ., (August 2, 2016) – Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser, President of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy, lends advice to Donald Trump, following his recent feud with the Khan Gold Star family.
Dr. Jasser states:
“Gold star families – those whose loved ones have lost their lives in the service of this great nation know no single party or faith. They are first and foremost America patriots of the highest order. If they are people of faith, their faith may guide them in healing from their loss.
It is reprehensible that any public official or candidate would see fit to attack such a family. It would be my hope that any candidate for office would lift up, support, and honor the parents of a fallen soldier, regardless of the faith he or she professed, national origin or the color of their skin. Like any person, a gold star parent has the right to be critical of a public figure – but no public figure should attack such a parent in the way that Mr. Trump has attacked the Khans. It seems that Mr. Trump’s advisers should urge him to speak only from prepared statements, leaving off-the cuff statements and 140 character comments off limits.
Attacking the Khans helps no political party and certainly doesn’t help the United States or bolster our national defense. If anything, the Khans’ sacrifice speaks to what I have been saying for decades: that American Muslim youth need to be taught that their country is worth that ultimate sacrifice, before any other identity group; and that the “Islamic State” must never be embraced, only fought – even if it is to the death. It is in fact an attention to the national spirit of those American Muslims willing to risk that ultimate sacrifice that holds within it that antidote to Islamist radicalization and allegiance to the global jihad.
The only party worthy of such venom here are those who are “jumping blindly on the bandwagon” to support the Khans here – the Islamist groups who otherwise condemn and abuse patriotic and reformist Muslims every day who have been championing the cause of heroes like Humayun Khan for years while calling for reforms against global movements that demonize his service and American exceptionalism. Also worthy of critique is the mainstream media, who ignore or even vilify American Muslim patriots.
If the media truly wants to honor the memory of Humayun Khan, they will do an immediate about-face, and support American Muslims like us at AIFD, who have always stood with our servicemen and women and have consistently championed with the exceptionalism of the American defense of liberty. Sadly most of the Muslim voices currently responding to this controversy are apologists for Islamism and its theocratic movements across the world.”
About AIFD
The American Islamic Forum for Democracy is a non-profit organization based in Phoenix, Ariz. dedicated to providing an American Muslim voice advocating genuine Muslim reform against Islamism and the ideologies which fuel global Muslim radicalization. AIFD’s mission is to advocate for the preservation of the founding principles of the United States Constitution, liberty and freedom, through the separation of mosque and state. In December 2015, AIFD convened and helped launch the Muslim Reform Movement, a coalition of over 12 Muslim organizations and leaders dedicated to reform for values of peace, human rights and secular governance.
About Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser
Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser is the president and founder of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy, a think tank dedicated to protecting American national security against the global threat of Islamism. AIFD promotes reform-minded Muslim voices for liberty, and is shaking the hold which Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood have upon Muslim leadership. Dr. Jasser is the author of “A Battle for the Soul of Islam: An American Muslim Patriot’s Fight to Save His Faith.” He is also a Co-Founder of the Muslim Reform Movement. Dr. Zuhdi Jasser is the host of “Reform This!” on the Blaze Radio Network.
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