Around Michigan & State Government

Michigan's Arab community rallies to oppose the self-proclaimed Islamic State

Michigan Radio | By Stateside Staff

Published February 17, 2015 at 5:17 PM EST

The White House begins its Summit on Countering Violent Extremism today.

The conference comes in the wake of deadly attacks carried out across the globe.

Theshock waves over the murder of Lt. Muathal-Kasaesbehwere especially deep in southeast Michigan, where some of the pilot’s relatives live.

A large crowd from metro Detroit’s Arab-American community gathered to mourn the pilot and call for an end to the self-declared Islamic State last week.

OsamaSiblani, publisher of the Arab American News, was one of the speakers at the rally in Livonia. He said the message to be gleaned from the event is that “we all stand together.”

“We all are united against the ISIS and against their criminal activities,” he said. “They do not represent Islam, they do not represent Christianity, they do not even represent humanity.”