Muslim community leaders call for dismissal of Warren commission member Arnold called Islam a cult and made anti-Muslim social media posts
Susan Smiley | Macomb Daily
Imam Steve Mustafa Elturk, president of the Islamic Organization of North America (IONA) is one of the community leaders calling for the removal of Wesley Arnold from the city’s historical commission because of several anti-Muslim social media posts he made. GINA JOSEPH – THE MACOMB DAILY
The Michigan Chapter of Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), a branch of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, and the Islamic Organization of North America today called on Warren Mayor Lori Stone to dismiss city historical commission member Wesley Arnold, who made anti-Muslim social media posts and called Islam a “cult.”
A letter from IONA Imam and President Steve Mustapha Elturk to Stone called Arnold’s views on Muslim Americans disparaging, if not openly hostile, and called for the Warren mayor to rescind Arnold’s appointment.
The letter revisited the history of the IONA mosque being established in Warren in 2006 and how the process opened up dialogue between city officials and members of the Muslim community.
“The journey was not easy, but through respectful dialogue and eventual conciliation, the city council unanimously adopted a historical document — Upholding the American Core Values of Freedom, Equality, and Justice — which stands as a reminder of Warren’s commitment to inclusion, diversity, and respect for all its residents regardless of faith or background,” said Elturk.
Elturk went on to say that Arnold’s “disregard for these core values” necessitated his removal from the historical commission in order to ensure the body’s integrity.
“I’m not sure what my opinions about Islam have to do with being on the Warren historical commission,” Arnold said. “I welcome my Muslim neighbors, I just don’t want them to mistreat women or kill non-believers.”
In a statement issued Thursday afternoon, Stone said she was not aware of the social media posts prior to appointing Arnold and repeated what she said in her statement responding to the recall petition: The city council never objected to Mr. Arnold’s appointment because they were unaware of this information. Again, the petition is being pursued by someone who has never brought this information to the administration’s attention.
Stone said two residents contacted her Thursday regarding Arnold’s appointment but she was in meetings all day and had not read her emails or had a chance to respond to the residents. She said once she has a chance to read her emails and “other information,” she can address the situation.
Walid said that Warren has a prolific history of being unwelcoming to racial and ethnic minorities beginning with anti-Black sentiments to more recent anti-South Asian and anti-Arab bigotry.
In 2018, a Warren official resigned from another city commission after her anti-Muslim social media posts were exposed.
