The islamic community in Indiana has stated its displeasure at the erection of an anti-Muslim billboard disparaging the prophet Mohammed, US Today reports.
“It is a horrible billboard. I’m outraged by it, but saddened at the same time … and I would like to know who is behind it,” said Rima Shahid, executive director of the Muslim Alliance of Indiana.
“It seems very cowardly to me. If you have some kind of stance, you should want to stand up next to your statement. I didn’t think there was any room for hate in our city. This billboard tells me otherwise.
“This kind of rhetoric just furthers division in our state and makes a neighbor question a neighbor, just like I am today.”
Shahid said the billboard, which she saw on southbound Interstate 465, was brought to her attention Friday by an anonymous tipster.
The all black billboard has a headline of “The Perfect Man.” Underneath are six bullet points to describe that man. These points include “married a 6-year-old,” “slave owner & dealer” and “13 wives, 11 at one time.”
At the bottom of the billboard in yellow sits the words “Educate Truthophobes.” A search of Truthophobes online leads to multiple anti-Muslim groups, specifically an Australian group with similar messaging.
U.S. Rep. Andre Carson, D-Indianapolis, said he believes the billboard is untrue and that the billboard’s author takes Islamic text and history out of context “just like al-Qaeda, ISIS and the Klan do to religious texts to justify their bigotry.”
Carson said he is disappointed that people have decided to use their free speech protections as a platform “to spread hateful, vile things that are divisive to people.”
“I think there’s a way to debate and be socratic without being disrespectful or undermining people and causing a sense of isolation.”
Carson called on people in the faith community to “come together and say this is unacceptable,” especially in light of an upcoming “March Against Sharia,” that is scheduled to occur in 28 American cities, including Chicago, Indianapolis, New York and San Bernardino, California this week.
Faryal Khatri, a spokeswoman for the Indianapolis-based Islamic Society of North America, said not only is the billboard not true, it is hurtful to her as a practicing Muslim.
To Khatri, the most disappointing aspect of the sign is that it could incite hate crimes toward Muslims or people perceived to be Muslim.
The billboard comes at a time when there is increased scrutiny and distrust of Muslims and Islam.
Since 2015, anti-Muslim hate crimes have increased by 78% in the United States, according to researchers at California State University.
In December 2015, on the campaign trail, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump called for a “total and complete ban” on Muslims entering the U.S., to prevent terrorists from entering the country.
Last month, a 35-year-old white supremacist is accused of fatally stabbing two men and injured another who were defending two girls — one of whom was wearing a hijab — on a light rail train in Portland, Oregon.
In court, the suspected attacker, Jeremy Joseph Christian, called the act “patriotism.”