Muslims in Texas Walk a Fine Line After Garland Shooting

Muslim leaders in Texas pointedly ignored plans for a Dallas exhibition of Prophet Mohammed cartoons, but worried how free speech could devolve into hate speech that incites violence. Sure enough, two men storming the event with guns were shot and killed. An article in the New York Times describes how one leader pondered a “response that would walk a fine line: clearly condemning the extremists behind the attack, while also calling to account what they see as hatred decked out in free speech finery.” Manny Fernandez and Laurie Goodstein describe Muslims in conservative Texas intent on defending their faith and American values while renouncing extremism. Muslims have confronted a mixed reception in Texas, with warm welcomes from most and fear, loyalty quizzes and insults from others. Muslim Texans interviewed for the article regard the promoters of Mohammed cartoons in the same light as Islamic extremists who rely on violence – intolerant, insecure and pathetic. – YaleGlobal