Former US President Bill Clinton has condemned anti-Muslim rhetoric and discrimination, saying he is tired of people targeting Muslims because of their faith.
Speaking at Koinonia Worship Center in Florida, Clinton cited a message from the Quran about people from different backgrounds getting to know and learn from one another.
“I’m tired of people denigrating Muslims for being Muslims,” Clinton said, criticising religious intolerance and what he described as America’s growing religious and cultural divisions.
Clinton recalled that his daughter, Chelsea Clinton, introduced him to the Quran when she was a teenager. He said she had read the religious text and later encouraged him to read it.
According to Clinton, the passage conveys the message that people from different communities should seek to understand one another rather than treat their differences as a reason for hostility.
The message echoes verse 49:13 of the Quran, which says that humanity was created into nations and tribes so that people may know one another.
Clinton Criticises Religious and Cultural Divisions
Clinton said people should not use religious differences to justify discrimination or hostility. He also argued that every faith has individuals who do wrong, because human beings themselves are imperfect.
His remarks stressed the importance of respecting religious beliefs and allowing people to practise their faith without being subjected to prejudice.
He urged people to view cultural and religious diversity as an opportunity for mutual understanding rather than a source of conflict.
The former president’s comments come amid an increasingly heated political debate over Islam and Muslim representation in the United States.
Remarks Come Amid Debate Over Muslim Senate Candidate
Clinton’s comments have drawn attention as Muslim Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed faces attacks over his faith during his campaign for a US Senate seat in Michigan.
El-Sayed, a former public health official, is seeking to become the first Muslim elected to the US Senate. His campaign has faced criticism from political opponents who have attempted to associate him with extremist groups.
US President Donald Trump recently referred to El-Sayed as “Mohammed” and called him a “jihadist”, according to reports. El-Sayed has also publicly denounced the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamic political movement founded in Egypt in 1928.
The Michigan contest between El-Sayed and Republican candidate Mike Rogers has been closely fought, with polling suggesting a competitive race.
Former president Barack Obama has also campaigned for El-Sayed in the closing weeks of the election campaign.
