Obama: Anti-Muslim rhetoric has no place in US

Obama’s visit to a Baltimore mosque Wednesday was his first visit to a mosque during his presidency, and he took the time to chide the “inexcusable” anti-Islamic rhetoric that’s boiled up recently.

Then following the meeting he spoke at the society’s mosque telling them an attack on one faith is an attack on all.

United States President Barack Obama on Wednesday said he was seeking to rebut the “inexcusable political rhetoric against Muslim-Americans” in the country.

He also noted that the mosque he visited was twice attacked, while Muslim children were bullied, and mosques were vandalised across America.

“The best way to fight terrorism is to show the U.S. does not suppress Islam and refute lies to the contrary”, Obama said in his historic address to Muslim community from a mosque in Baltimore, Maryland. “Sikh Americans and others who are perceived to be Muslims have been targeted, as well”.

Today, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has wooed conservative voters by demanding a ban on Muslim immigrants, while frontrunner Ted Cruz has advocated Christian-only admissions and championed “Judeo-Christian values”.

It’s about being a leader for the people of all religions.

He decried the surge of threats and intimidation of American Muslim communities following the terrorist attack in San Bernardino, Calif. previous year.

“An attack on one faith is an attack on all our faiths”, said Obama, noting that it is the global task of all religious faithful to condemn violence. “The president said we are Muslims and Americans, and we are part of the fabric of society”. “No, it’s true. Look it up”. “I’m in good company”.

Hopefully Obama’s visit will help highlight the obvious: Muslim Americans are American, and Americans should treat Muslim Americans like Americans.

He goes on to say that there is a “distorted” view of Muslims in America due to risky rhetoric and that extremists should not be “legitimized” with rhetoric that calls them Muslims.

He said that while the “overwhelming majority” of Muslims reject terror, it is “undeniable” that others use their “perverted” interpretation of the religion to justify acts of horrific violence. They’re not defending Islam. The White House said she’ll make history as the first United States Olympian to compete in a hijab.

“We never thought that when we held our first prayers in the small room almost a half a century ago that we would be hosting the president”, said Muhammad Jameel, the mosque’s president.