Criticism mounts following Oklahoma legislator’s anti-Muslim remarks

Several groups blasted the anti-Muslim comments.

Criticism mounted Wednesday following anti-Muslim remarks made last week by a state lawmaker and the head of the Oklahoma Republican Party.

Rep. John Bennett, R-Sallisaw, warned readers of his Facebook page on Sept. 1 to “be wary of the individuals who claim to be ‘Muslim American.’ ”

Adam Soltani, executive director of the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, called on Dave Weston, chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party, to repudiate the remarks. He also asked for Bennett to apologize.

Neither happened. Weston responded saying, “Islam coexists peacefully with nonbelievers only if those skeptics abide by their unalterable stipulations.”

On Wednesday, CAIR was joined at the Capitol by several other groups, including the ACLU of Oklahoma, the NAACP of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Conference of Churches, to discuss the remarks during a press conference.

“For the past four years, Oklahoma Muslims have been the target of an organized effort by individuals within the Oklahoma Republican Party to demonize our faith and marginalize our adherence to our faith in an attempt to push the entire faith group of Muslims out of the mainstream and into the fringes of Oklahoma society,” Soltani said.

Rev. William Tabbernee, Oklahoma Conference of Churches executive director, said that on behalf of his membership, he apologized to the Islamic community for what some tiny minority of people have done and said.

“Every time a politician makes a ‘thoughtful’ remark about Islam, we have to beef up security in all Oklahoma mosques,” said Imam Imad Enchassi, senior Imam of the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City.

Anthony Douglas, state president of the Oklahoma NAACP, called on Bennett to resign immediately.

Last week’s comments show that bullying doesn’t just happen in the playground among children, but among adults with power in the halls of government, said Russ Florence, chair of the executive committee of the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice.

“Rep. Bennett was perfectly legitimate in saying we should be concerned if ISIS intends to infiltrate our country,” Weston said. “The President refuses to secure our borders. We should be concerned because through casual observation and for 1,400 years of history, Islam has expanded predominately via the sword.”

Bennett agreed with Weston. Muslims have lived and ruled by the sword, something which ISIS is doing right now, Bennett said.

“There are 1,400 years of data shows Islam clearly professes and tells followers of that to kill non-Muslims,” Bennett said.

Soltani said Bennett is incorrect.

Bennett said he has no intent of resigning, adding that he is representing his constituents and what they say and believe.

Several speakers said ISIS does not represent Islam and denounced the group’s actions in the Middle East.

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