A Republican student association in San Diego has been branded ‘ignorant and pathetic’ for sending an aggressive letter demanding Muslim students condemn last week’s terror attacks in Barcelona.
The Republican Club at San Diego State University wrote to the Muslim Student Association, saying that the campus community could not move forward creating ‘an inclusive environment for all students’ until radical terrorism was ‘disavowed’.
The letter said if no condemnation was forthcoming, leaders should resign.
The controversial letter was sent by a student Republican group at San Diego State University (pictured)
The memo, posted on Facenook by the SDSU College Republicans and signed by their president, Brandon Jones, said acts of terrorism should be ‘disavowed’ by Muslim leaders on campus
It was signed by the group’s president, Brandon Jones, who wrote: ‘We ask that the president of your organization condemn this morning’s acts of Islamic terrorism in Spain and those acts similar in nature.
‘If this request is not made, we ask that the president of the Muslim Student Association and any remaining Executive Officers not in compliance, resign immediately.’
In a post responding to the letter, the Muslim Student Association wrote: ‘We have received numerous amounts of positive messages and comments regarding the distasteful letter that was sent to us.
‘Your kind words and willingness to stand against injustice has showed our members and Muslim students from other universities around the country that we are not alone. Despite hundreds of attempts to stifle our voice and activism, the MSA continues to be a uniting force on campus.’
The Muslim Student Association posted a message on Facebook along with an image of students showing their support for the organization
The association branded the Republican letter ‘distasteful’ and vowed to continue being a uniting force on campus
The letter sparked intense debate after it was put on Facebook by the Republican student group.
One commentor wrote: ‘You should be ashamed of yourselves for such a low tin pot strategy at straw-manning an entire religious group to denounce what is already known as extremist ideology.
‘This publication once again suggests that the Muslim faith seems to sympathize with terrorism unless publicly stated otherwise.
‘That is truly disturbing that you would put the face of your organization on a razor-edge. Poor leadership.’
Fifteen people were killed in two terror attacks in Spain on Thursday last week, with ISIS quickly claiming responsibility for the atrocities
But another wrote: ‘Thank you for saying this. I lost my father in 9/11. The lefts inability and the hesitance of some in the moderate Muslim community to call out and help route out radicals, which is part of their duty, is truly terrifying.
‘I know the cost of not standing up to radical Islamic terrorism.’
Jones told the San Diego Union Tribune he received a threatening text message after publishing the letter, which he said read: ‘I hope you rot in hell. We’re coming for you this week, you vile piece of a human being.
‘Watch your back every step you take. SDSU campus will be the war zone against you and inhumane rats.’
And he said an email had called on him to resign and ‘when convenient, kill yourself’.