Esty and Imam Malik Issue Joint Statement Following National Prayer Breakfast

Statement

Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5) and Imam Hamid Malik together released the following statement today after attending the 2017 National Prayer Breakfast. Imam Malik, who attended the breakfast as Esty's guest, is the Regional Imam for the Baitul Aman Mosque in Meriden, CT.

"Today's National Prayer Breakfast, attended by people of all faiths and backgrounds, is an occasion to look past our differences and celebrate all that unites us as human beings. Now more than ever, our country must stay true to the values that have defined us -- justice, empathy, and compassion. We see from the shooting at our Mosque in Meriden and the recent one in Quebec that words matter and can have deadly and lethal consequences.

"We are deeply concerned with the implications of the President's recent executive orders. Targeting all Muslims in select Muslim-majority countries amounts to a religious test for entry into the United States. Fashioning policy around a single community or faith is not consistent with American values. American Muslims must play -- and have played -- a central role in combating extremism in all its forms. To drive a wedge between Muslims and the rest of America is not only immoral and unjust; it risks alienating families and communities across the country that play an integral role in our nation's fight against terrorism.

"Let us work together on a path forward that is fair and balanced, that keeps our nation safe, and that stays true to our American values. Let us work together to enrich ourselves and each other through education, which empowers us to embrace both our extraordinary diversity and our common humanity. Building communities centered on empathy, compassion, and respect requires more than talking about those values; it requires living those values, day in and day out, even when it's not easy."

Source