A Democratic lawmaker shockingly compared Muslim children to “white supremacists” because they object to highly sexualized LGBTQ curriculum in school.
“This issue has, unfortunately, does put… some Muslim families on the same side of an issue as White supremacists and outright bigots,” said Democrat Kristin Mink of Montgomery County Council for District 5.
“I would not put you in the same category as those folks, although, you know, it’s complicated because they’re falling on the same side of this particular issue,” she said.
Mink made the statement in response to Muslim children expressing concerns about their parents’ inability to exempt them from lessons they believed contradicted their religious beliefs.
She claimed that Muslim families do not possess the religious privilege to excuse their children from LGBTQ literature, drawing a parallel to parents’ inability to exempt their children from studying evolution, Fox News reported.
“And that is equity,” the Democratic councilwoman continued. “That’s not an infringement on, you know, particular religious freedoms, just as we cannot allow folks to opt out of teachings about evolution.”
Sa’ad, one of the children who spoke out at the meeting, is a middle school student in the MCPS system.
“I’m here to talk about my rights. My religion teaches to respect all religions and all human beings and their rights. So does my country’s law. And I want my right back to have an opt-out option,” he said.
Ibrahim Raziuddin, a 2023 graduate from MCPS, said, “I am here to testify on behalf of my elementary-age cousins.”
“Although the introduction of texts and discussions related to transgenderism and LGBTQ+ may support MCPS’s mission to be all-inclusive… I don’t believe my first-grade and third-grade cousins are prepared to read and discuss such issues,” he said.
Yasmeen Elkoshairi, also a recent graduate, told the council, “Freedom of religion is a fundamental human right that protects the conscience of all people. It allows us to think, express and act upon what we deeply believe. But around the world and in the United States, this freedom is eroding.”
One other speaker, reading a statement provided on behalf of a Muslim student, said: “Never should a student be marginalized or excluded because of their opinions. Giving kids the option to skip these sessions enables us to exercise our right to practice our religion freely while preventing us from experiencing harassment at school.
“Restoring the opt-out choice does not encourage bigotry or a lack of comprehension. It promotes respect and inclusivity by honoring students’ religious convictions,” the speaker said.
Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team Ismail Royer told Fox News Digital that Mink’s remark “shocked” him.
“I was shocked. I was absolutely stunned. That’s the last thing that I thought she was going to say,” said. “In fact, the Muslims don’t hate anyone.”
