Leaders and followers of different faiths in Denver meet to learn about Islam

Attorney Qusair Mohamedbhai. Image from westword

Denver City, Colorado (IINA) - Leaders, activists and people of different faiths met here during an event on Saturday afternoon in order to learn more about Islam and Muslim culture.
About 60 people showed up to the Denver event and listened to an overview of Muslim beliefs, their long history in the U.S., and their current challenges.
Attorney Qusair Mohamedbhai described FBI agents showing up at random Muslim American houses following overseas attacks or prisoners not having access to religious leaders in jails, The Denver Post news reported.
A high school Muslim girl read a poem about her frustration turning to a desire to stand up for her beliefs after a man verbally attacked her on a light-rail train.
"When I look at the history of racism in America, there's cause for a little hope," said Robert Price, a retired senior lecturer for the University of Denver. "The people in the affected communities organize and they struggle for their cultural and their political rights and their rights in the society. Essentially it's what the Islamic community is facing now."
From his side, Colorado U.S. Attorney John Walsh, gave a presentation on the work his office is doing, some as part of efforts with attorney generals across the country to protect civil rights and combat violent extremism including training people to secure their houses of worship, and an anti-bullying effort in six schools where students will participate in a mock trial of a hate crime.
"There is no single profile," Walsh said. "Violent extremism is not confined in any way, shape or form to people of a particular faith or particular ideology."
Walsh pointed out that in Colorado, violent acts of extremism have not been tied to Islam listing the Aurora theater shooting, the Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood shooting and the murder of prisons chief Tom Clements as examples of other forms of extremist violence.
"The solution is not the federal government," Walsh said. "The solution has to be a community solution."
In return, Mohamedbhai said people of various communities need to work together because civil rights case law affecting Muslims today could affect others in the future.
"Case law doesn't change," Mohammed said. "In order to create space for religious liberties and freedoms we have to fight the battles for other people. I encourage you all, take on a cause that is not your own."
SM/IINA

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