United States Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid PHOTO: FACEBOOK
Senate minority leader Harry Reid has paid tribute to a Muslim US army officer who laid down his life fighting for the country amidst anti-Muslim comments from several US politicians.
Slamming Republican leaders, Donald Trump and Ben Carson, for their anti-Muslim views, the Democratic leader posted a photo of a headstone belonging to Muslim US army officer, Kareem Khan, on his Facebook account. “In Arlington National Cemetery, there is a white headstone, which, like so many others, marks the final resting place of a courageous service-member who gave his life in combat. This grave belongs to Kareem Khan of New Jersey, who was just 20 years old. Kareem was Muslim.”
Reid praised Khan for laying down his life for his country. “Kareem’s rank was that of Specialist in the Stryker Brigade of the US Army’s 2nd Infantry division. He received a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and a medal for good conduct. Like thousands of other soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, Kareem Khan sacrificed everything for his country. Kareem gave, as President Abraham Lincoln said, 'the last full measure of devotion' for the United States.”
Read: Sarah Palin lashes out at Muslim schoolboy over homemade clock
“The nearly three million Muslim in this country are part of the fabric of America. They teach in our schools, fight in our military, and serve in Congress. Congressmen Keith Ellison of Minnesota and Andre Carson of Indiana – both Muslim – have represented their districts and states with distinction,” Senator Reid wrote.
Read: Republican candidate Carson says Muslims unfit to be US president
Reid criticised Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson for saying that Muslims were unfit for the post of US president. “But yesterday, I watched on Meet the Press as a Republican candidate for president denigrated Kareem Khan and all Muslim-Americans. Ben Carson questioned Muslim-Americans devotion to the United States. He questioned their integrity. And then Ben Carson unilaterally disqualified every Muslim-American from becoming president of the United States.”
He also mentioned another Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, for his bigoted remarks about Muslims, saying "shame on any person who spews such vile, hateful rhetoric".
Read: Trump considers getting 'rid of' Muslims when president
“Sadly, this is just another example of Republican candidates refusing to speak for three million Muslim Americans. We saw it last week with Donald Trump, as he refused to denounce bigotry at his own campaign rally. If these Republican candidates are incapable of going to bat for America’s Muslim community, then they shouldn’t run for President of the United States,” he added.
Senator Reid called on all Republicans to denounce Ben Carson’s ‘disgusting remarks’ and to take note of the contributions Muslims have made to the US. According to Reid, none of the candidates are worthy of becoming US president until they realise this.
Read: Trump calls for Indian intervention if Pakistan becomes ‘unstable’
“I call upon every Republican to denounce Ben Carson’s disgusting remarks. That shameful intolerance and bigotry should have no place in America today. Sadly, it seems to have a lasting place in the Republican Party. Republicans should open their eyes and take note of the contributions of our country’s Muslim community. Until they do, none of them will be worthy of leading this nation.”
COMMENTS (1)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ