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-—FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—-
 
NEW YORK, NY (February 20, 2016) – The Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) is appalled yet again by Donald Trump’s most recent Islamophobic statements, telling a hoax story, rated as false by numerous fact-checking websites about Muslims being executed with bullets “dipped in pig’s blood.”

This is not the first of his nauseous cycle of bigoted rhetoric, and it appears it will not be his last. ICNA once again has to condemn these preposterous, xenophobic, and borderline-fascist statements.
We call on the Republican Party leadership to condemn and distance itself from such hateful and blatantly racist rhetoric. ICNA President Naeem Baig said “Trump needs to understand that American lives are in danger, as a result of his campaign’s repeated instances of rhetoric based on racism, Islamophobia, and White resentment. He displays a toxic ignorance of the numerous contributions Muslim Americans have made to both America and the Republican Party.
These statements show a complete disregard for the values that make America great: freedom of religion and respect for others. Such statements manufacture a false clash of civilizations between Islam and the West that only furthers antagonism and hatred of America abroad.