RNA - As President-Elect Donald Trump prepares to take office some Muslim-Americans say they are cautiously optimistic. Local Muslim leaders say anti-Muslim rhetoric during the election caused a spike in hate incidents.
Khaula Hadeed, the Executive Director of CAIR-Alabama (The Council on American Islamic Relations) says her group is now working to confront fear and educate people about Islam. "During the election cycle it was the worst time for Muslims in the United States, it was even worse than post 9-11 numbers."
Hadeed says in the two weeks after Trump was elected 111 hate incidents towards Muslims were reported to CAIR. But those incidents have been happening the entire past year. According to the FBI, "there was a 67% spike in anti-Muslim hate incidents," says Hadeed.
Hadeed is one of about 500 Muslim leaders across the nation who have signed a letter to Trump saying they are troubled by any proposals that would target Muslims based on religion.
"My husband's parents they're visiting us, my daughter is turning two in April and they met her for the first time when they came here in December and just the thought of that not happening at all," says Hadeed.
Hadeed says she and other Muslims were encouraged after Trump took back his policy position of banning all Muslims. But says now they must make sure future policies don't discriminate based on religion. "We're making sure we're ready to take on any type of anti-Muslim discrimination be it in policy or anywhere else."
Sunday the Birmingham Public Library will host a conversation on Islam in America. It's at 3 p.m. and is part of MLK Day events happening in the city.
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