Pakistani-American takes Republican convention stage to pray for Trump

Previously, Tarar said he ‘didn’t hear’ Trump say that 27 per cent of Muslims were militant

In a landmark moment in US politics, Republicans formally chose Donald Trump as the party’s presidential nominee on Tuesday.

Surprisingly, a Pakistani-American, Sajid Tarar, also took the Republican National Convention stage to pray for Trump.

“Let’s pray to get our country back,” he said. He invoked the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and said, “The values reflected by our leader must reflect the values of our forefathers. God bless America, God bless you, God bless Donald Trump,” he said.

Previously, Tarar had said Trump didn’t really say ‘Islam hates us’. He also ‘didn’t hear’ Trump say that 27 per cent of Muslims were militant or, for that matter, the former House speaker Newt Gingrich call for a 'test' for all Muslims, as well as, deportation for those who don’t pass the standards of American values.



Tarar, who lives outside of Baltimore, said he moved to the United States from Pakistan to attend law school in the mid-'80s. He became a US citizen in the '90s. He owns real estate, works for an organisation 'that deals with senior citizens,' and has four kids — one of whom, he said, is a top squash player.

Tarar considers himself "part of the angry Americans against the traditional politicians, and non-functioning, non-working Washington DC". According to him, Trump is a doer and that he would act strongly against extremists such as the Islamic State, where Obama has been weak.

In April, Tarar told Fusion, “When Donald Trump has said something about Muslims and Islam, he doesn’t mean American Muslims, he’s talking about terrorists.” But he admits that Trump did not personally tell him so.



He holds a combination of the Islamic State and the ‘liberal media’ for the increasing hate crimes against Muslims. Elaborating on this further, he said his wife and daughters don’t wear headscarves, but they sometimes wear the traditional Pakistani dress called shalwar khameez. So if someone were to attack them — well, “how could I blame them? I would blame media,” Tarar said.

His Facebook page identifies him as an adviser at the National Diversity Coalition for Trump, and he says he founded a group called American Muslims for Trump. However, it seems there aren’t many like Tarar who is a firm supporter of Trump. A Facebook page titled “American Muslims for Trump” has six “likes.” Another group, “Muslims for Trump,” has more than 430 members — and a wall full of people asking to be removed from the group.

According to Maryland court records, Tarar is 56 although he says he is 52. Court records also indicate he failed repeatedly to pay his bills. There are four active cases against him -- $3,515 for the Mid-Atlantic Car Wash Technology Inc.; $7,138 for SunTrust bank; $5,700 for the Jamestown Inlet Condo Council of Unit, and $6,619 for SunTrust.

There is a series of criminal complaints too, all filed over two days in 2009, related to a gas station that he used to own: selling cigarettes without a license. And a complaint for driving a bus without a trader’s license.

This article originally appeared on Washington Post.