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Imam Siraj Wahhaj’s Tragic Situation: What Can We Do?

Family and Society Team
11 August, 2018

After the recent arrest of  Imam Siraj Wahhaj’s son in what’s known as the new Mexico compound, many rumors and conspiracy theories are swirling around this tragic case.

Even those close to the Imam are unable to explain or give details on the situation, adding to the embarrassment of many American Muslims  who are struggling to deal with shock and sorrow that have gripped them with this saddening news.

Add to this is the bias coverage of mainstream media that ignored the main issue of the children and put great focus on the identity of the imam’s son.

So, with uncertainty wrapping the whole scene, what can American Muslims do?

Many Muslim human rights and community  organizations have reacted somehow, asking people to pray for the imam and his family in this difficult situation.

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The following is a a good example of a balanced statement issued by The Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative (MuslimARC) on August 8.

MuslimARC Statement on the Media Coverage of the Wahhaj Family

We at MuslimARC are appalled by the sensationalist and Islamophobic news coverage of the arrest of Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, the son of our beloved Imam Siraj Wahhaj.  

Imam Siraj is a respected member of the American Muslim community. He is a devoted family man, a community builder, and he has been central in the efforts to raise millions of dollars for the betterment of the lives of orphans, for direct services impacting Muslim and allied communities, and in support of advocacy and justice work across the nation. With over 40 years of experience, Imam Siraj has sparked minds and inspired souls with messages of hope, faith, and the power of redemption.

MuslimARC calls on all those who have benefitted from Imam Siraj’s efforts to support his family in this time of need. We have been following this situation since January 4th, 2018, when Imam Siraj publicly posted about his missing children and grandchildren, requesting prayers from the community for their safe return.

Imam Siraj has been active in trying to help his four year old grandson, Abdul-ghani Wahhaj, return to his mother, including by posting a GoFundme and sharing pictures and fliers. We have watched the video where Hakima Ramzi, the mother of Abdul-ghani Wahhaj, pleaded for the return of her son.

On Friday August 3rd, New Mexico authorities arrested Abdul-ghani’s father, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, who was one of five adults taken into custody on child abuse charges after authorities found them with 11 children starving and in wretched condition. Abdul-ghani remained missing, and we are deeply saddened to learn that his body was later found.

We condemn the sensationalist and irresponsible media coverage that has centered language about Imam Siraj being an “unindicted co-conspirator” to refer to this tragic situation involving his family. Referring to alleged but unproven charges reflects anti-Black media bias in pulling up the records of the victims’ family members and perpetuates a pattern of Islamophobic news coverage where Muslims are always found guilty by association. 

We call on all media outlets to uphold journalistic standards and ethics in covering this case. We ask our followers to avoid reading clickbait articles and focus on sharing news that includes responsible coverage. We caution supporters to avoid amplifying conspiracy theories and statements that can further add to the trauma of the victims and their families.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Abdul-Ghani’s loved ones, especially his mother Hakima Ramzi. We expect media outlets to provide more responsible coverage of these traumatic and tragic events. We call on the media to refrain from drawing speculative links to shadowy plots where the circumstances do not warrant them. We ask our followers to respect the privacy of the Wahhaj family as we await further details from the investigation.

We are including the following list of action items for supporters.

Action Items: