Indiana Muslim Community Condemns Anti-Catholic & Anti-Muslim Comments
Indiana Muslim Advocacy Network, Muslim Alliance of Indiana, and the Muslim Community Center, on behalf of their leadership and constituents, strongly condemn past anti-Muslim and anti-Catholic remarks posted on Facebook by John Jacob, the Republican candidate vying to represent Indiana State House District 93.
The remarks posted on the personal facebook page of Republican candidate John Jacob attack two religious groups that have the right to freedom of religion, a fundamental principle in our constitution. His posts sow bigotry and division in our Hoosier state. In such a divisive time, we expect candidates from all political parties vying to serve in the Indiana General Assembly to champion the cause of unity and fight against hatred and bigotry. We expect them to be representatives of ALL Hoosiers and we call on Mr. Jacob to renounce the hateful comments.
The two organizations, along with multi-faith orgnaizations and allies across the state, stand firm with the Indiana Muslim community and the Catholic parishioners and assert that such bigotry and hatred has no place in our Hoosier state.
Signed in unity,
Hiba Alami Executive Director Indiana Muslim Advocacy Network
Muhammad Safder Shura Member Muslim Community Center
Fatima Hussain Board President Muslim Alliance of Indiana
Hydre Abdullah Shura Member Muslim Community Center
The Muslim Alliance of Indiana and Muslim Hoosiers across the state stand firm in our commitment to amplifying the voice of those seeking justice from oppression. Our support is with the African American community and the wider BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community across the nation as they strive towards this cause. We stand in solidarity with peaceful protests across the country calling for change, as more and more people of color are disproportionately victims of police brutality, hate crimes, racism and bigotry. We commit ourselves, as a community, to take the necessary steps to collaborate with and listen to our black and African American communities, and plan to share the next steps in the coming weeks.
We also urge the law enforcement community throughout the state of Indiana as well as across the nation to respond with calm as protesters exercise their Constitutional right to free speech and assembly.
The Quran says “O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm in justice, witnesses for Allah, even if it be against yourselves or parents and relatives.” (Surah An-Nisa, Ayah 135).
We call on all Muslim Hoosiers to uphold the tenets of our faith, in collaboration with our brothers and sisters of all faiths and backgrounds, in combating oppression, regardless of race, faith or ethnicity. There can be no justice for one without justice for all.
In peace and solidarity,
Fatima Hussain Board President Muslim Alliance of Indiana
Hiba Alami Executive Director Indiana Muslim Advocacy Network
Ahmed Alamine Imam Indianapolis Muslim Community Association
Osama Saad Imam Al-Azhar Foundation
Richard A. McKinney, BSW Former President Muncie Islamic Center
Sarfraz S. Khan, MD President Geist Community Center (Masjid Omar)
Ismail Abdul-Aleem Amir/Imam Masjid al-Mumineen
Nadeem Ikhlaq, M.D. Chairperson Al Salam Foundation
Shamaas Nyazee President AlHussnain Seminary Board member Masjid E Noor
Hydre Abdullah Shura Member Muslim Community Center
Arman Siddiqui, MD President Alhuda Foundation
Seyed R. Zarabadi President Islamic Association of Kokomo
If you are an Indiana Muslim organization and would like to add your signature, please send an email to info@indianamuslims.org.
Join us for the vigil on Friday, March 1st: RSVP here
The Greater Indianapolis Muslim community is saddened and disheartened by the recent murder of Mustafa Ayoubi, a 32-year old IU Kelley School of Business graduate, devoted son and brother, and loyal friend. Ayoubi’s friends were present during the shooting and witnessed the alleged shooter shout bigoted and Islamophobic statements at Ayoubi before pulling the trigger and taking his life.
We strongly condemn the abhorrent sentiments of hate and bigotry and we continue to work closely with IMPD for a transparent investigation into this hate crime.
Our hearts and prayers are with Mustafa’s family and friends, and we appreciate the outpouring support from the interfaith community. We will not tolerate bigotry in our Hoosier State, and with our allies, will continue our work to ensure that no community will grieve because of hate.
Signed in love,
Congressman Andre Carson, Indiana Congressional District 7 Hiba Alami, Indiana Muslim Advocacy Network (IMAN Associates) Aliya Amin, Muslim Alliance of Indiana (MAI) Imam Ahmed AlAmine, Masjid Alfajr Halima Alkhattab, Indianapolis Muslim Community Association (IMCA) Ashhar Madni, Al Salam Foundation Michael Saahir, Nur-Allah Islamic Center Dr. Muhammad Majid, Muslim Community Center Board of Directors, Alhuda Foundation Ismail Aleem, Masjid Al-Mumineen
FAMILY OF MUSTAFA AYOUBI TO ADDRESS MEDIA PRIOR TO HEARING
Zahra Ayoubi, sister of Mustafa Ayoubi, will address the media at the Marion County Courthouse on Friday morning at 8:30 prior to the initial hearing proceedings for Dustin Passarelli on February 22, 2019 at 9:00 AM.
On Saturday, suspect Dustin Passarelli followed the victim, 32-year old IU graduate Mustafa Ayoubi, on I-465 near 38th street. Upon exiting the interstate, the suspect followed Ayoubi to his destination, an apartment complex near Eagle Creek, and shot the victim multiple times. The suspect has been arrested on a preliminary charge of murder and booked into the Marion County Jail, according to the IMPD.
Eye witnesses said the suspect was “shouting anti-Islamic slurs at them and was telling them to ‘get out of our country, you are foreigners.'” (SEE: WIBC)
Hoosier Muslim community leaders are calling on local law enforcement to vigorously investigate a possible hate crime motive for the murder of Mustafa Ayoubi, irrespective of the status of any hate crime legislation pending in the State.
WHO: Zahra Ayoubi, sister of victim Mustafa Ayoubi
WHAT: Initial Hearing Proceedings for Suspect Dustin Passarelli
WHEN: Friday, February 22 at 9:00 AM
WHERE: Indianapolis Criminal Division 4. Address: 200 E. Washington St. #W203, Indianapolis, IN 46204
In a statement, Aliya Amin, Executive Director of the Muslim Alliance of Indiana, said:
“We believe the initial characterization of this heinous crime as a road rage incident does not fully take into account that the victim’s friends, who were direct eye-witnesses, state that the suspect targeted them because of their religion and ethnicity. Multiple eyewitness accounts of a possible hate crime motive ought to be more than enough impetus for police to pursue that possibility. Regardless of the lack of a hate crime law on the books, the victim’s family and the Indiana Muslim community deserve full transparency about the suspect’s motives, and we expect the IMPD to share the results of any preliminary investigation.”
In a statement, Hiba Alami, the Executive Director of IMAN, said:
“While our legislature debates the language of a proposed hate crimes statute, the hate-motivated murder this weekend tragically demonstrates how real this issue is to Muslim and other marginalized communities. Hate crimes target the entire community because any one of us could have been on Interstate 465 that day and become a target. We hope to hear from the IMPD soon regarding the suspect’s complete motive, which would include taking into account the eyewitnesses.”
In a statement, Arsalan Bukhari, Strategic Communications Manager for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said:
“We have witnessed an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims, immigrants, and members of other minority groups since 2016. When government officials promote hateful rhetoric on the national level, or here at the state level do not recognize hate crimes, tragedies like what has befallen the Ayoubi family are only made worse.”
Muslim Alliance of Indiana (MAI) envisions a future in which thriving and integrated Hoosier Muslims serve their broader communities and the state, and in which they are considered as an indispensable component of Indiana’s political, economic, religious and social fabrics. It also works towards building a broad Hoosier Muslim community that is strong in its diversity, inclusive, and is capable of effective collective action to preserve its civil rights and liberties, along with those of other vulnerable groups. www.indianamuslims.org
Indiana Muslim Advocacy Network (IMAN) is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization that strives to provide Muslim Hoosiers an educated, organized and amplified political voice advocating for positive civic and political changes in the State of Indiana. http://imanactivists.org/
The Muslim Alliance of Indiana (MAI) is deeply disturbed by recent anti-Muslim rhetoric in political campaigning. The experiences of minority groups has shown that divisive and demeaning rhetoric tends to incite acts of violence and intimidation. Today, Muslims are experiencing an upsurge in harassment and hate crimes and are becoming fearful in going about their daily lives.
We reject demands that Muslims be required to register in a national database, wear special badges, or be prohibited from entering the United States based on religious belief. We also believe that it is cruel to turn away genuine refugees based on religion or nationality, and contradicts a fundamental American values stated on our Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free…”
Intolerance based on religion, nationality, or race is a betrayal of values that all Americans and Hoosiers cherish. MAI is grateful for the support and encouragement of the many religious, civic, and political groups who have spoken and are speaking out against bigotry toward Muslims.
It is noted that MAI has consistently and without reservation condemned acts of terrorism, most recently the horrific shootings in San Bernardino (see statement of 12-4-2015).
The vision of MAI is to see Muslim Hoosiers thriving and actively serving their communities, helping to build a diverse, inclusive, and vibrant state characterized by strong social justice. MAI also strives to build a unified Muslim community that is well-integrated into Indiana’s political, economic, religious and social fabrics, and is working to preserve the civil rights and liberties of all vulnerable groups.
