As I spoke, I focused on the significance of freedom – from fear, from want, and freedom of worship. While we are blessed to have freedom of religion here in the United States, the same cannot be said for our brothers and sisters in many parts of the world.
For a third year in a row, Palestinians have been subjected to violence and human rights abuses by the Israeli government during Ramadan at Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem.
In India, the recent revisions made to history and political science textbooks remove details regarding Gandhi’s death, the 2002 Gujarat riots, and the Mughal empire – another move to erase concepts that don’t contribute to the Hindutva ideology and deliberately exclude the country’s Muslim population.
In China, the Uyghur Muslim community has been subjected to mass detention, forced labor, and what can essentially be described as cultural genocide by the Chinese government.
From Qur’an burnings to restrictions on hijabs, the Great Replacement Theory is fueling discrimination, anti-Muslim violence and hate speech across Europe.
Freedom belongs to us all, and in order for us to have it, we must recognize and speak out against these acts of hate, wherever and whenever they appear.
As we approach the end of Ramadan, I ask that you consider supporting our Truth in Action campaign – this time specifically with Religious Freedom and Human Rights in mind. Stand with us as we advocate not only for American Muslims and our children, but our Muslim brothers and sisters facing oppression and hardship across the globe.
PS: Here's the full video of my portion of the invocation from Monday's State of the City Address. |
