Muslim Advocates Asks President to Address Issues of Profiling
Washington, DC: On Feb 4 "Muslim Advocates Executive Director Farhana Khera met with President Barack Obama at a historic meeting to discuss issues concerning the American Muslim community," according to an email message.
"Participants at the roundtable discussed a range of issues, including racial and religious profiling, anti-Muslim hate and discrimination, and the need for greater representation of American Muslims in government and the federal judiciary.
“ 'This meeting could not have come at a better time. With public officials from statehouses to Congress questioning the loyalty of Americans simply because they are Muslim, I commend the President for sitting down with American Muslims to discuss our hopes and dreams for our nation,' said Farhana Khera, executive director of Muslim Advocates. 'As he prioritizes his work in these last two years in office, I urged the President to make real and lasting reforms on racial and religious profiling and countering anti-Muslim hate a part of his legacy.'
"At the meeting, Khera asked the President to work with his new Attorney General to modify and strengthen profiling guidance to ban racial, religious and ethnic profiling in all its forms, including at the border and in the national security context. ..
"Khera and others highlighted the palpable rise in anti-Muslim bigotry and hate crimes across the nation. Khera also asked for the President’s leadership in addressing this serious problem by using his pulpit to reset the national conversation on hate against Muslims and other religious minority communities.
"Noting that no American Muslim has served as a federal judge, Khera also urged for the nomination of one or more qualified American Muslim lawyers to the federal judiciary.
"Today’s meeting was attended by a small group of American Muslim leaders, and marks the first time President Obama has held a roundtable with the American Muslim community..."
