Khans thank Islamic convention attendees, warn 'assault' on community will outlast election
Khans thank Islamic convention attendees, warn 'assault' on community will outlast election
Grace WongContact Reporter Chicago Tribune
The couple who lost a son in the Iraq War and were attacked by Donald Trump after their appearance at the Democratic National Convention this summer on Saturday thanked those at a national Islamic convention for their support but warned the "assault" on the Muslim community won't end with the November election.
Khizr Khan and his wife, Ghazala, whose son, Capt. Humayan Khan, was killed in 2004 in Iraq, spoke to the annual Islamic Society of North America convention in Rosemont Saturday afternoon.
Linda Sarsour, executive director of the Arab American Association of New York, introduced the couple.
Calling the Khans "remarkable human beings," Sarsour said that Khizr Khan was "unapologetically Muslim" and that "we as American Muslims know exactly what the U.S. Constitution says and we expect those who are going to be the leaders of the United States of America to abide by that Constitution."
Sarsour also praised Ghazala Khan's silence during the Democratic convention, something Trump raised questions about, saying that the Republican presidential candidate was blind to "the power, the grace of Ghazala Khan."
"We do not have to scream, we do not have to speak for people to know that we as Muslim women are powerful women, that we are the foundations of our communities and our institutions and it is because of us that our communities thrive," Sarsour said.
Ghazala Khan spoke first, thanking everyone for the love and respect they have received.
"I'm so grateful for all of you and all of America and all of the world," Ghazala Khan said. "I feel so close to you guys ... I have given one son and got this many back."
In his remarks, Khizr Khan said, "The ink of the pen of the scholars is more sacred than the blood of the martyrs," and said scholars must play a large role in shaping the reaction of the Muslim community to the "chaos" in American society.
READ MORE: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/b...
Grace WongContact Reporter Chicago Tribune
The couple who lost a son in the Iraq War and were attacked by Donald Trump after their appearance at the Democratic National Convention this summer on Saturday thanked those at a national Islamic convention for their support but warned the "assault" on the Muslim community won't end with the November election.
Khizr Khan and his wife, Ghazala, whose son, Capt. Humayan Khan, was killed in 2004 in Iraq, spoke to the annual Islamic Society of North America convention in Rosemont Saturday afternoon.
Linda Sarsour, executive director of the Arab American Association of New York, introduced the couple.
Calling the Khans "remarkable human beings," Sarsour said that Khizr Khan was "unapologetically Muslim" and that "we as American Muslims know exactly what the U.S. Constitution says and we expect those who are going to be the leaders of the United States of America to abide by that Constitution."
Sarsour also praised Ghazala Khan's silence during the Democratic convention, something Trump raised questions about, saying that the Republican presidential candidate was blind to "the power, the grace of Ghazala Khan."
"We do not have to scream, we do not have to speak for people to know that we as Muslim women are powerful women, that we are the foundations of our communities and our institutions and it is because of us that our communities thrive," Sarsour said.
Ghazala Khan spoke first, thanking everyone for the love and respect they have received.
"I'm so grateful for all of you and all of America and all of the world," Ghazala Khan said. "I feel so close to you guys ... I have given one son and got this many back."
In his remarks, Khizr Khan said, "The ink of the pen of the scholars is more sacred than the blood of the martyrs," and said scholars must play a large role in shaping the reaction of the Muslim community to the "chaos" in American society.
READ MORE: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/b...
As always, we would like to open this topic to the floor for discussion.