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Colin Powell says Islamophobia “is not the way we should be doing it in America”

Washington D.C., 10/20/08 - The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)
Welcomed today remarks by former Secretary of State General Colin Powell during a recent Sunday interview with NBC News' Tom Brokaw on an episode of the talk show Meet the Press.

During an interview in which he endorsed Senator Barack Obama for President of the United States, former Secretary Powell address the negative whisper campaigns going around the country about Senator Obama's religious affiliation.

During an exchange with Brokaw, Secretary Powell said that high-ranking members of the Republican partying have been saying that, "'Well, you know that Mr. Obama is a Muslim.' Well, the correct answer is, he is not a Muslim, he's a Christian. He's always been a Christian. But the really right answer is, 'What if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country?' The answer is "No, that's not America." Is there something wrong with some seven-year-old Muslim-American kid believing that he or she could be president?"

Secretary Powell went on to relay the touching story of Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, a 20-year old American Muslim who served in the United States Army and was killed in Iraq; earning him a Purple Heart and Bronze Star medals for his sacrifice.

In a statement, ISNA said: "We commend and thank Secretary Powell for affirming the value and contributions of Muslim Americans. As a pluralistic nation, there is no room for religious discrimination in America and as Americans, we are proud that a respected Republican leader like Secretary Colin Powell had the moral strength to criticize his own party for anti-Muslim statements coming from some of their leaders.

"In a time of severe economic crisis, critical military conflicts and tens of millions of Americans without adequate health care, we hope that for the remainder of this presidential election campaigns will steer away from negative campaigning and focus on the issues that are affecting each and every American; regardless of their race or religion."