© 2024 Iowa Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Muslims in Iowa React to Election with Fear, Sadness

el7bara/Flickr
An opened qur'an

The Imam at the Islamic Center of Cedar Rapids says Muslims in his community are reacting with a mix of fear and sadness to the election of Donald Trump as president.

Hassan Salim says he hopes President-elect Donald Trump will watch his language when talking about Islam.

“There are millions of American Muslims who are truly hurt every time he does not distinguish between what Islam is, what American Muslims are, and radical Islam. These are two separate things and he needs to make it very clear.”

Imam Salim says some Muslim women in Cedar Rapids are choosing to not wear hijab, the traditional Islamic head covering, for fear they will be targeted.

“Women who are dressed in the traditional Muslim head scarf are perhaps the biggest target because of their appearance. They can easily be known as Muslims when they’re out in public,” he explains.

The president-elect talked about bans against Muslims entering the U.S. during the campaign.

Lindsey Moon is IPR's Senior Digital Producer
Ben Kieffer is the host of IPR's River to River