October 25-2013
Rep. Michele Bachmann claimed in a recent radio interview that American mosques are seeking to “advance the goals” of foreign nations and organizations.
In an interview with Christian radio host Jan Markel, Bachmann said: “We’re seeing this all across America. It’s like groups want to top each other and be the new latest, largest mosque in North America. What we’re told is that many of them are funded by the Saudi Arabians or the Qataris. And so many of these mosques’ funding actually comes from foreign countries that have interests in advancing the goals and beliefs of the violent Muslim Brotherhood.”
In point of fact, Saudi Arabia has backed the overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt by the Egyptian Army and complained about the refusal of the United States to embrace the coup.
The St. Cloud Times said it asked Bachmann’s office for evidence that a proposed mosque in that city would be funded by foreign groups, but it did not respond.
The Times quoted Lori Saroya, the executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), as saying: “American Muslims have been feeling the brunt of Michele Bachmann’s fear mongering and bigotry for several years. Religious freedom is a fundamental right and it’s very disturbing to hear a member of Congress insinuate that mosques should not be built in America and Muslims should not be allowed to practice their religion. Her broad-brush smears of the entire Islamic faith tradition remind us of similar smears against Catholics and Jews in the past.”
Bachmann is a Republican who represents the Minnesota congressional district adjacent to the one held by Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim ever elected to the Congress. Bachmann barely won re-election last year and has announced she will not run for re-election next year.
