Muslim Officials Seek Apology For 'Anti-Muslim Trope' At Debate

VIRGINIA — Muslim elected officials from Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia sent a letter to WJLA and the Democratic Party of Virginia on Monday urging reforms and training to address alleged anti-Muslim bigotry following a question asked by a WJLA moderator during a May 25 debate among the Democratic candidates for Virginia lieutenant governor.

Dave Lucas, a long-time local news anchor, asked Del. Sam Rasoul, the first Muslim ever elected to the Virginia General Assembly, whether he could fairly represent all Virginians if elected lieutenant governor this fall given the money he has received from Muslim groups. The Democratic primary for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general will take place on Tuesday, June 8.

The Democratic Party of Virginia partnered with WJLA, a local news station owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, and George Mason University to hold the debate. Based on the elected officials’ understanding, Lucas’s question may have been approved by others at WJLA and the Democratic Party of Virginia.

Lucas's question “injected a bigoted, anti-Muslim trope and conspiracy theory into the heart of what should have been a fair debate on the issues facing Virginians,” the letter said. “As an official moderator for the debate, Mr. Lucas raised a concern about Del. Rasoul’s support from Muslims who live outside of Virginia and who are excited at the prospect of electing a Muslim to any statewide office for only the second time in American history.”

In his question, Lucas asked Rasoul about receiving donations from Muslim groups based outside Virginia. “There’s nothing wrong with that. But that was the case. Talk a little bit about your fundraising efforts. And can you assure Virginians if you’re elected, you’ll represent all of them, regardless of faith or beliefs?” Lucas asked.

“This question, which we understand may have [been] approved by others at WJLA and/or the Democratic Party of Virginia, is rooted in the ‘civilization jihad’ and Muslim ‘infiltration’ conspiracy theories fomented by hate group leader Frank Gaffney,” the letter said. “This common and despicable trope claims that there is a conspiracy amongst Muslims and their allies ‘to take over the government and replace the Constitution with Sharia law.’”

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“What makes this question even more nefarious than any of these examples is that it was not delivered by a partisan candidate for office, but by the moderator of the official debate hosted by the official party and one of the largest news stations in the region,” the letter said.

Among the nine Muslim elected officials to sign the letter were Virginia Del. Ibraheem Samirah (D-86th District); Buta Biberaj, Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney; Abrar Omeish, Fairfax County School Board Member (At-Large); and Mo Seifeldein, Alexandria City Councilman.

The elected officials said they appreciate that WJLA issued an apology for the “impact of these words,” but their decision to put this solely at the feet of Lucas “does not absolve the company of its responsibility as the official host of the debate to vet and approve these questions,” the letter said.

“Our understanding is that Mr. Lucas did not create this question entirely on his own and that it was approved by others. This apology doesn't address how WJLA will correct the inherent biases in the company’s newsroom and management to ensure that Muslim community members, institutions and candidates in the DMV won’t be subjected to similar discrimination in coverage and debate moderation,” the elected officials wrote.

The elected officials also said they appreciate that the chairwoman of the Virginia Democratic Party personally apologized for the question posed to Rasoul. “However, we have not yet heard a whiff of concern, contrition or explanation from the Democratic Party of Virginia, which also hosted and is responsible,” they said.

The elected officials are urging the Democratic Party of Virginia and WJLA to clarify exactly how “this anti-Muslim question” was introduced to the debate, how the questions were vetted, and to confirm all parties who were aware of the question before it was asked.

The officials also want Virginia Democrats to apologize unequivocally to Muslim communities for the question. They asked Democratic Party staff members and WJLA leadership to meet with the leaders and other Muslim leaders for an educational session on the history and use of anti-Muslim tropes to suppress Muslim civic engagement.

For future debates, the officials asked the Democratic Party of Virginia to commit to a “transparent fair vetting of all future debate questions to ensure this bigotry does not impact future Muslim candidates for office the way it has adversely impacted Delegate Rasoul.”