CAIR's Dawud Walid reacts after U.S. ambassador killed in Libya

CAIR's Dawud Walid reacts after U.S. ambassador killed in Libya

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Dawud Wallid  (Credit: myFOXDetroit.com) Dawud Wallid (Credit: myFOXDetroit.com)
DEARBORN, Mich. (myFOXDetroit.com) -

A mob of protesters and gunmen stormed the U.S. consulate in Benghazi killing Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans.  They were reportedly outraged over a film Florida Pastor Terry Jones was promoting on the anniversary of the September 11th terror attacks.  The film ridicules Islam's Prophet Muhammad.

"This film really is cheap.  It's low quality, low rate, and it really should've been ignored," said Dawud Walid with the Council on American Islamic Relations.   "It's just a shame that in Libya that there's a small group of violent people who have escalated a situation."

"We don't like the contents of the film at all, but the last prophet of Islam Muhammad taught us that we're supposed to repel evil with righteousness and good behavior," he continued.  "Prophet Muhammad would not sanction the wanton violence or the death of any innocent people."

Walid is all too familiar with Pastor Jones.  The Christian fundamentalist has staged numerous protest in Dearborn over the past two years.

While the film has sparked outrage and violence in other parts of the world, including at the U.S. embassy in Egypt, Walid doesn't believe local Muslims will have the same reaction.

"There has been a history of anti-Muslim bigots here in America trying to gin up anti-Muslim sentiment to make money or to get notoriety.  Terry Jones is one of those.  We're pretty much used to this type of stuff going on here in our backyard."

Pastor Jones released a statement following the violent protest.  It reads, in part, "The fact that angry protesters climbed the wall at the U.S. embassy in Cairo today, ripped down the American flag and tore it apart further indicates the lack of respect that Islam has for any other religion, any other flag, any freedom of speech, freedom of expression and freedom of religion. It further illustrates that they have no tolerance for anything outside of Muhammad."

Pastor Jones is planning another visit to Dearborn in October, this time to protest bullying by Muslim youth.  Authorities and religious leaders are urging people to ignore the event.

  • Ronnie DahlRonnie Dahl

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