An Oklahoma woman who happens to be Muslim says she was startled when a woman approached her on a street in her home town and asked her to sign a petition proposing that all Muslims be deported.
The run-in took place outside a gas station in Del City, a suburb of Oklahoma City with a population of 21,000.
“Muslims are a peaceful people,” said Deb Beneta. “I wish people would see us as humans and not this mythical Muslim monster.”
Unfortunately for Ms. Beneta, fear of the religion may be near an all-time high, what with the Islamic State beheading Western hostages and a beheading by a convert to Islam at a food company in Moore, Oklahoma. just a few miles south of where Beneta was asked to sign the petition.
“Being Muslim doesn’t mean you’re from another country. I am an American,” said Beneta.
She said a woman approached her and asked her to sign a petition she was carrying. “She said, ‘It’s to send Muslims back to where they came from.’ I said, ‘I am a Muslim, but I’m an American, so where do you plan to send me?” said Beneta.
Beneta couldn’t tell if the woman was circulating the petition on her own or was part of some organization.
She said she simply wishes people would be better educated about the realities of Islam.
“It just offended me that someone would say I don’t belong here,” said Beneta. “I think some of the most dangerous people are non-educated people who have been stimulated by hate or fear.”
Beneta said she did offer to sign the petition, but after she said she was Muslim, the woman with the petition left without further conversation.
