ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester’s Muslim community is calling for peace after President Donald Trump threatened to “end civilization” in Iran if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened.
News10NBC’s Tom Kowalski spoke with local Muslim leaders about the escalating tensions.
Community reactions
While Trump said bombings may have been paused for now, the threat against the predominantly Muslim country has left many in the community shaken.
“Our reaction, generally speaking, was that this is unbecoming of a president, and he’s not representing us the way he ought to as being the head of the state,” said Tabassum Javed, a board member of the Islamic Center of Rochester. “So I felt embarrassed, really, as an American, that I have a president who’s speaking this type of language.”
Javed said while they don’t have many Iranians at their center, the ones who are there are terrified.
“Attacking Iranian civilian structures, infrastructure and all of that, makes a life of the average person miserable,” Javed said. “And also it goes against the Geneva Conventions.”
Javed said even those who might support regime change in Iran believe this is not the right approach. He said the statement could affect the larger Islamic world.
Calling for clarification
“I would be remiss if I said that it would not be taken personally as a Muslim,” Javed said.
Javed said Trump could easily clarify his remarks and acknowledge he does not want to hurt the feelings of 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide. He said the language does not represent America.
News10NBC reached out to local Iranian groups but found no one willing to speak on camera due to fear of retribution on their families in Iran.
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