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{"id":1736,"date":"2003-03-04T16:16:38","date_gmt":"2003-03-04T21:16:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/altmuslim\/?p=1736"},"modified":"2003-03-04T16:16:38","modified_gmt":"2003-03-04T21:16:38","slug":"washington_state_lawmakers_walk_out_on_muslim_prayer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/altmuslim\/2003\/03\/washington_state_lawmakers_walk_out_on_muslim_prayer\/","title":{"rendered":": Washington State Lawmakers Walk Out On Muslim Prayer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\u201cIt\u2019s an issue of patriotism,\u201d said<\/a> Republican Rep. Lois McMahan in explaining why she boycotted<\/a> the opening prayer for a session of the Washington State House of Representatives, which happened to be delivered by a Muslim imam. Perhaps if she\u2019d heard the prayer<\/a>, she would have reconsidered. \u201cAt this time, we also pray that America<\/a> may succeed in the war against terrorism,\u201d said Imam Mohamad Joban of the Islamic Center of Olympia in his prayer. \u201cWe pray to God that the war may end with world peace and tranquility.\u201d The imam wasn\u2019t bothered<\/a> by the walkout, which included at least one other legislator. \u201cEven if half of them leave, it\u2019s OK for me,\u201d he said. \u201cAs a Muslim we have to respect what people believe. We have to forgive something they did because of ignorance.\u201d They body in charge of the daily prayer is trying to rotate among clerics representing a broad range<\/a> of faiths, so expect the circus to continue the next time a Muslim is tapped for the job.<\/p>\n

<\/i><\/p>\n

Zahed Amanullah is associate editor of altmuslim.com.\u00a0 He is based in London, England.\n<\/p>\n

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