RNA – Speaking during a conference entitled “Review of the Situation of American Society During the Trump Presidency” at Rasa News Agency’s office in Qom, Hujjat al-Islam Fayyazi, the former prayer leader at New York City’s Imam Ali Mosque, said, “The presidency of Donald Trump has had widespread implications for the entire world and he has taken a tougher approach to further American colonial goals than other president and official against other countries.”
“Regardless of the controversy that Trump has found with the allies and even officials of the United States, his pressures on Islamic countries were very evident,” the professor at the Institute for Islamic Studies said.
Regarding the pressure on Muslims during the Trump era, he emphasized, “Since the beginning of the Trump administration, the pressure on minorities in the United States, especially Muslims has increased. The restrictions imposed on Muslims are not such that, for example, they are prevented them from going to the mosques or from attending religious ceremonies, but there has been increased surveillance and reduced sense of security for Muslims in the United States.”
Hujjat al-Islam Fayyazi said, “One of the issues that has been recently raised is that because of the spiritual vacuum created by modernity, the fortune of the people in the Western countries has led to increased spirituality, which has created opportunities for the creation of self-created sects.”
In regard to the policies of the American government and the amount of the support of the people of the United States, the Iranian cleric said, “The American government does whatever it can to advance its goals but to say that this government is separate from the people isn’t correct, the people voted for the government of Trump.”
He added, “The remarkable thing about this is that powerful politicians and lobbyists in the United States, in order to gain more power (for example, to obtain a position of power or seats in the House of Representatives) make massive efforts in the media and to attract public opinion. For this means, they can thus ensure their success. Therefore, it cannot be said that the majority of Americans oppose the policies of their government, although a few small groups oppose the government and engage in protests.”
In regard to the a question on the immoral conduct of the American government, including the production and sale of weapons, and the reaction and indifference of the American people in regard to this, Hujjat al-Islam Fayyazi gave an example of the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoqji and Trump’s support of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Muhammad ibn Salman, and said, “The Trump administration’s support for ibn Salman, who is responsible for Khashoqji’s murder, has sparked protests in the United States, but when Trump referred to the creation of jobs as a result of Saudi investments, most critics were silent.”
Rasa News Agency
112/974