FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Islamic Association of North America Condemns "Defamatory, Islamophobic"
Attempts to Smear Minnesota Muslim Community

(MINNEAPOLIS, MN - 8/16/2024) The Islamic Association of North America (IANA), one of the largest and oldest Muslim social services organizations, today condemned defamatory, anti-Muslim and politically motivated attempts to smear the organization and the Minnesota Muslim community as part of a political attack on Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

IANA has sent a letter demanding a correction and apology from the far-right, anti-Muslim website The Washington Examiner, which published a defamatory article which targeted IANA based on blatant misinformation and "guilt by association” via “six degrees of separation.”

In a statement, the Islamic Association of North America said:

"As one of the largest and oldest faith-based Muslim social service organization in North America, the Islamic Association of North America is grateful for our longstanding record of service and our strong partnerships with state and local governments, including in Minnesota.

"Since 2001, the Minnesota chapter of IANA has engaged in interfaith dialogue, empowered young people, and provided charitable services to Minnesotans in need. During and since the COVID pandemic, IANA also received state grants to provide educational, medical and mental health-related resources to Minnesotans of all faiths and background. With support from the state, we vaccinated over 3,000 members of our community and distributed tens of thousands of PPE materials. We also continue help the community access critical mental health resources.

"None of our charitable work is remotely controversial, yet the far-right, notoriously anti-Muslim website The Washington Examiner has tried to smear IANA as part of a political attack on Minnesota’s governor. The Washington Examiner's twisted game of guilt by association via six degrees of separation is a stale, predictable strategy straight from the anti-Muslim playbook. It is also blatantly defamatory.

"We thank our partners inside and outside the Minnesota community for standing with us, and we encourage all elected officials and community leaders to reject this cynical, politically motivated campaign of anti-Muslim hate."