14 April 2016•Update: 22 April 2016
By Kasim Ileri
WASHINGTON
Daesh published threats to many high-profile moderate Muslims in Western countries Wednesday in the latest issue of its propaganda magazine Dabiq.
The list of the figures threatened includes U.S. Representative Keith Ellison of Minnesota, Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton’s aide Huma Abedin, Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) National Executive Director Nihad Awad, and British politicians Sayeeda Warsi and Sajid Javid.
Rep. Ellison fired back at the death threats against him and other Muslim political leaders, accusing Daesh of twisting Islam's message.
"Daesh is a collections of liars, murderers, torturers and rapists," Ellison said in a statement.
"No Muslim I know recognizes what they preach as Al-Islam. The fact that I'm on Daesh's bad side means that I am fighting for things like justice, tolerance, and a more inclusive world."
Awad, the head of the U.S.’ largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, also released a statement.
"Our life and death are in the hands of God," said Awad. "I believe this threat is a reflection of the outstanding work CAIR does in opposing the anti-Islamic message and brutal actions of ISIS and other terror groups,” he added, using an alternate name for Daesh.
He added that that the best response to such threats is to continue challenging extremism, whether it is espoused by organizations like Daesh or by Islamophobes who seek to demonize Islam.
CAIR called on state and federal law enforcement authorities to provide protection to American-Muslim leaders who have been threatened by Daesh.
