MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WMOT) -- One of the nation’s foremost Islamic civil rights groups is urging Tennessee lawmakers to educate themselves about the Muslim faith.
A journalist with WMOT reporting partner Bragg Innovative News Network recently asked Tennessee Republican Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey to clarify controversial comments he’s made in recent years regarding Islam.
In a rambling statement, Ramsey compares Muslim fundamentalists to Jim Jones who led his cult members into mass suicide in 1978. Ramsey then complains that Muslims aren’t doing enough to distance themselves from terrorism.
Responding to those comments, Council on Muslim Islamic Relations spokesman Corey Saylor suggested Tennessee lawmakers get better acquainted with the Muslim community.
“Unfortunately, he seems completely unaware of the numerous denunciations of terrorism by members of the Muslim faith, and this includes a number of religious rulings – fatwas – including one issued here by scholars in the United States in 2006.”
In a report on Islamaphobia released by the Council earlier this year, Tennessee was mentioned more often than any other state in the nation.
Here's a link to Lt. Gov. Ramsey's full comments.