Muslim advocates welcome Bernie Sanders' support but want visible action

Kayla Epstein in New York
Monday 2 November 2015 12.00 GMT

A Muslim-American student pushed the issue of Islamophobia in the US into the spotlight last week, when she asked Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders to address the subject before an audience of hundreds at George Mason University.

Remaz Abdelgader, a senior at GMU, in Virginia, wanted to know more about Sanders’ stance on what she called “the growing Islamophobia in this country”.

“If you look at all the Republican candidates,” she said, “in order to feed into their constituents, they’re talking about Islamophobia and they’re constantly bashing Muslims in the media ... Ben Carson, Donald Trump, the biggest bigots.”

Abdelgader was interrupted by thunderous cheers. Sanders waved her on to the stage and embraced her, before she continued.

“As an American Muslim student who aspires to change this world,” she said, “hearing the rhetoric that’s going on in the media makes me sick … I’m constantly trying to raise awareness and make sure that everyone is treated equally in this country. So to the next president of the United States, what do you think about that?”

Sanders’ response lasted several minutes.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]