Not what we stand for

On behalf of the Muslims in my region, I would like to address a concerning letter published in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that displays hate speech and incites unnecessary fear. This was published on Feb. 2 by JR Cromwell of White Hall. Instead of promoting peace and understanding, the letter is accusing a religion followed by 2 billion people of stereotypical clichés in this critical time. Hateful speech like this is what caused Joseph Czuba to brutally stab to death Wadea Al Fayoume, a 6-year-old Palestinian boy, in his Illinois home in October. Muslims of Arkansas deserve to live without this type of fear, and this letter is doing the opposite.

Further, the call to “send the B-52s and carpet-bomb Gaza from one end to the other” is disgusting. This is an open call for genocide. Is there an editor who actually read this letter before publishing it? Is there any rule about blatant racism and hate speech? Will this issue be corrected in any way, shape or form?

Anyone who has ever visited a mosque in Arkansas or just read or just did a simple Google search will find it easy to understand the many misconceptions, and negative propaganda being portrayed about Islam. This can simply be removed by education, and this is a call to honest readers to learn more about Islam from authentic sources. Any mosque in Arkansas will welcome any visitor with open arms for them to ask any questions.

I’d like to further add that Muslims in Arkansas are your children’s teachers, physicians, and dentists, we are lawyers, business owners, blue-collar workers, and law-abiding citizens. I believe that the letter that was published does not represent what Arkansans stand for. We are a state that believes in justice, understanding, peace, and love.

HOSAM HADID

Fort Smith

Hosam Hadid is president of Masjid Annoor, which serves the Muslim community of Sebastian County and beyond.