Excerpt:
A coalition of Islamic groups held a conference today on what the groups say has been an increase of fear and suspicion about their faith. The gathering is called "Challenging Islamophobia." About three dozen people attended the event at the Islamic Center of Minnesota in Fridley.
One of the group's sponsoring the conference is the local chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The group's Minnesota director, Jaylani Hussein, said many Muslims are worried about this week's arrest of two Middle Eastern refugees on terror charges, as well as the shooting of a Philadelphia police officer by a self-described Islamic State adherent.
"There is a great deal of hysteria which is being fueled, not only by these incidents, but a lot of information online, a lot of information being spread through social media that is building a very negative view about Muslims," Hussein said.