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U.S. NEWS A3
Obama visits U.S. mosque, says impression of Muslims distorted
DARLENE SUPERVILLE
Associated Press
CATONSVILLE, Md. (AP) —
President Barack Obama
sought Wednesday to
correct what he called a
“hugely distorted impres-
sion” of Muslim-Americans
as he made his first visit to a porting to act in the name
U.S. mosque. He said those
who demonize all Muslims
for the acts of a few are
playing into extremists’
hands.
Inserting himself into a de-
bate that has ricocheted in
the presidential campaign,
Obama told parishioners
at a mosque outside Balti-
more that he’d heard from
young Muslims worried
they’ll be rounded up and
kicked out of the country.
He said Muslims, too, are
concerned about the
threat of terrorism but are
too often blamed as a
group “for the violent acts
of the very few.”
“We’ve seen children bul-
lied, we’ve seen mosques
vandalized,” Obama said,
warning that such un-
equal treatment for certain
groups in society tears at
the nation’s fabric. “That’s
not who we are.”
For Muslim advocates,
Obama’s visit was a long-
awaited gesture to a com-
munity that has warned of
escalating vitriol against
them that has accompa-
nied the public’s concern
about the Islamic State
and other extremist groups.
Although Obama has vis-
ited mosques overseas, he
waited until his final year in
office to make such a visit
at home, reflecting the is-
sue’s sensitive political im-
plications.
In this year’s Republican
presidential campaign,
Donald Trump has called
for banning Muslims from
the U.S. temporarily and
Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio
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warned of “radical Islamic Children from Al-Rahmah school and other guests react after seeing President Barack Obama
terrorism.” Muslim-Amer- during his visit to the Islamic Society of Baltimore, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016, in Baltimore, Md.
ican advocacy groups
have warned of growing Associated Press
antagonism that has fol-
lowed recent attacks in among some of his most of the problem only play United States Olympian to
Paris and San Bernardino, entrenched critics. Ahead into terrorist propaganda, compete in a hijab.
California, by those pur- of his visit, White House of- weakening U.S. national Nearly half of Americans
ficials acknowledged the security as opposed to think at least some U.S.
of Islam. visit could spark contro- strengthening it. He said IS Muslims are anti-American,
“We have to understand: versy but suggested that and other extremist groups according to a new Pew
An attack on one faith is would help make his point are desperately working Research Center poll re-
an attack on all our faiths,” about ignorance and reli- to legitimize themselves by leased Wednesday. Two-
Obama said. He said it fell gious bias. masquerading as religious thirds of Americans said
on all Americans to speak Still, the president was leaders and holy warriors. people, not religious teach-
up. pointed in acknowledg- “We must never give them ings, are to blame when vi-
For Obama, the visit re- ing that concerns about that legitimacy. They’re not olence is committed in the
flected a willingness to violence emanating from defending Islam,” Obama name of faith.
wade into touchy social is- some corners of the Islamic said. “The vast majority of However, when respon-
sues that often eluded him world were not ill-founded. the people they kill are in- dents were asked which
earlier in his presidency. For He denounced what he nocent Muslim men, wom- religion they consider trou-
years, Obama has fought called an “organized ex- en and children.” bling, Islam was the most
incorrect claims that he’s tremist element” twisting Ahead of his speech at the common answer.
actually a Muslim and was selective Islamic texts in a suburban Islamic Society “We never thought that
born in Kenya, beliefs that way that ends up reflect- of Baltimore, Obama met when we held our first
polls suggest remain preva- ing negatively on the over- with Muslim university chap- prayers in the small room
lent among many Republi- whelming majority of law- lains, community activists nearly a half a century ago
cans. Obama, a Christian, abiding Muslims. and public health profes- that we would be host-
was born in Hawaii. “It is undeniable that a sionals to discuss religious ing the president,” said
Obama, acknowledging small fraction of Muslims tolerance and freedom. Muhammad Jameel, the
that uncomfortable chap- propagate a perverted in- Among the participants mosque’s president. “To-
ter in his own story, noted terpretation of Islam. This is was fencer Ibtihaj Mu- day is a newstarting point.
that Thomas Jefferson had the truth,” Obama said. He hamma. The White House It is also a continuing jour-
also been accused of be- added, “It’s real. It’s there.” said she’ll make history at ney — a journey steeped
ing a Muslim. But Obama said sugges- the Rio de Janeiro 2016 in American history and
“So I was not the first,” tions that Islam is at the root Olympic Games as the first tradition.”q
Obama said to laughter
from a hundred or so Mus-
lims who gathered for his
speech. “No, it’s true. Look
it up.”
Obama challenged Holly-
wood to start casting Mus-
lims in roles “that are unre-
lated to national security.”
Drawing a parallel with Af-
rican-Americans’ struggle
for broad societal accep-
tance, he noted, “there
was a time when there
were no black people on
television.”
With no plans to ever
again appear on a ballot,
Obama faces less pressure
to avoid political contro-
versy, and seemed to rel-
ish the possibility that his
visit would raise eyebrows