The Council on American-Islamic Relations has called on Muslim women activists to “tweet about who they are and how they speak out,” after Donald Trump speculated on the weekend that the mother of a fallen soldier may have been silent on stage at the Democratic National Convention because she “wasn’t allowed” to speak.
Ghazala Khan stood stoically beside her husband, Khizr Khan, as he spoke about their son, who was killed in 2004 in Iraq. “She probably — maybe she wasn’t allowed to have anything to say. You tell me,” Trump said in an interview on ABC after hearing the speech.
The social media campaign, which began at 10 a.m EDT on Monday, is using the hashtag #CanYouHearUsNow.
Working on the messaging of America's only accredited Muslim College as Director @zaytunacollege. #CanYouHearUsNow pic.twitter.com/Gxb0ZE3Uh0
— hebamacksoud (@hebamacksoud) August 1, 2016
Sometimes Muslim women want to speak in public. Sometimes we don't. Both are excellent choices. #CanYouHearUsNow pic.twitter.com/vTCxr3rPoa
— Shireen Footybedsheets Ahmed (@_shireenahmed_) August 1, 2016
In an Op-Ed in the Washington Post on Sunday, Ghazala Khan wrote that it was simply that she was too emotional to speak at the convention. “Walking onto the convention stage, with a huge picture of my son behind me, I could hardly control myself,” she wrote. “What mother could? Donald Trump has children whom he loves. Does he really need to wonder why I did not speak?
Donald Trump said that maybe I wasn’t allowed to say anything. That is not true. My husband asked me if I wanted to speak, but I told him I could not. My religion teaches me that all human beings are equal in God’s eyes. Husband and wife are part of each other; you should love and respect each other so you can take care of the family.”
We raise Nobel Peace Prize winners, we are Nobel Peace Prize winners. #CanYouHearUsNow
— Linda Sarsour (@lsarsour) August 1, 2016
Please don't project what goes on in your own household onto us! @realDonaldTrump #CanYouHearUsNow pic.twitter.com/61IfzInDMr
— Malika Dee (@MalikaDee33) August 1, 2016
.@realDonaldTrump This is a list of Muslim #Nobel laureates. 3 of them are women. What did you do? #CanYouHearUsNow https://t.co/FhHqcaGNzG
— Rim-Sarah Alouane (@RimSarah) August 1, 2016
I'm a female Muslim lawyer.4 generations of women writers,doctors,lawyers in familyDon't dare say Muslim women don't speak!#CanYouHearUsNow
— Sumbal Naqi (@ssnaqi) August 1, 2016
.@realDonaldTrump I'm a #humanrights scholar, trying to make sure rights & freedoms are protected. What did you do? #CanYouHearUsNow
— Rim-Sarah Alouane (@RimSarah) August 1, 2016
Ironic how the silence of a Muslim woman is more powerful than all your hateful words @realDonaldTrump #CanYouHearUsNow
— Safa Sankari (@SafaaSankari) August 1, 2016
These 4 Muslim Women Have Changed the Face of American Politics, #CanYouHearUsNow? pic.twitter.com/HIgHicijfA
— Muslim Girl (@muslimgirl) August 1, 2016
The campaign is reminiscent of the mobilization of Muslim women activists on Twitter, when Trump called for the creation of a national database of Muslims.
Read the full story at The Hill.
Related:
Gold Star mother Ghazala Khan responds to Donald Trump: “All America felt my pain”
Donald Trump’s anti-Muslim rhetoric sparks witty Twitter backlash
