EAST LANSING, Mich. (News 10) – Muslim religious leaders say they have seen an uptick in Islamophobia in recent days, and gathered Friday afternoon to discuss how to address the issue.
Incidents at the Islamic Center
Sohail Chaudhry, imam at the Islamic Center of East Lansing, said the community has seen islamophobia firsthand.
“There was a group of people who were shouting slogans against our beloved prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him,” Chaudhry said. “And they were saying some very nasty things.”
More recently, Chaudhry said the issue has also appeared online. One attendee on Friday directed New 10 Lansing to Facebook comments on a recent news article in West Michigan, where some commenters referred to Muslim people as “a cancer” and “evil.”
Researchers cite broader trend
Nazita Lajevardi, a professor at the University of Michigan who studies both islamophobia and antisemitism, said the incidents are part of a larger pattern…