State Department Decries Anti-Muslim Rhetoric

During an interfaith panel discussion hosted by Catholic University today, State Deparment Special Envoy Hannah Rosenthal warned against the perils of allowing Americans to unreasonably suspect Muslims of wrongdoing.

Rosenthal said that the 9/11 attacks increased hostility toward U.S. Muslims, and cautioned non-Muslim Americans to be on the lookout for discrimination.

“When Americans view Muslims with suspicion just because they are Muslims, this must be challenged. Our country was founded on the precepts that all human beings have inherent dignity and rights and that they are innocent until proven guilty. This is being turned on its head in the Muslim intolerance we are seeing,” she said. “People may hold bad ideas and intolerant thoughts, and may express them. But we hope others will use their right to freedom of expression to condemn and confront such bad speech.”

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