Somali Mosques in Minnesota Strengthen Security Following Donald Trump's Remarks

Minneapolis (Caasimada Online) – The mosques in the state of Minnesota in the United States have begun to strengthen their security, as concerns and fears grow regarding attacks targeting the Somali community, following heated remarks by President Donald Trump against Somalis living in the state.

The concern intensified after Trump posted on his Truth Social account on Thursday, stating that Somali immigrants are taking over Minnesota, urging the people of the state to fight against the situation he described.

“The great state of Minnesota is being taken over by Somali immigrants. Riots, killings, and chaos are happening all over the state. The people of Minnesota must resist,” Trump said in his post.

These remarks have created significant concern among the Somali community and Muslim leaders in Minnesota, who fear that the president's words may incite acts of hatred and violence against Somalis.

According to reports from MPR News , the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) convened on Thursday with the imams of the mosques in the state to discuss how to enhance the security of places of worship.

The meeting focused on preparing security plans, raising awareness among mosque attendees, and ensuring that the congregation knows the emergency exit doors and the steps they can take in the event of a dangerous situation.

Suleiman Adan, who is the deputy executive director of CAIR Minnesota, stated that Trump's remarks cannot be viewed merely as political speech without any impact.

“We cannot ignore this issue by labeling it as just political speech, or something the president said without seriousness,” Suleiman said.

“We have previously seen how hate-filled rhetoric can quickly lead to harm, threats, and violence,” he added.

Previous incidents that heightened fears

The concerns of Muslim leaders are also rooted in previous incidents that highlighted the dangers that places of worship may face.

Sheikh Abdulahi Farah, one of the imams of the Dar al-Farooq Mosque in Bloomington, stated on Friday that such remarks have real consequences that cannot be underestimated.

The Dar al-Farooq Mosque was targeted in a bombing attack in 2017 carried out by members of a racially motivated extremist group while Muslim individuals were present at the mosque for morning prayers.

The individual who led that attack was later sentenced to 53 years in prison.

“These remarks are irresponsible, dangerous, and have consequences,” Sheikh Abdulahi Farah said at a press conference held on Friday by religious leaders in Minnesota.

“We know what it means when an entire community coming to worship is made to feel unsafe. Blaming an entire community is not accountability. Making a community a target for the problems is not a strategy for ensuring security,” he said.

On the other hand, some of the neighbors of the mosques and Somali businesses have begun to reorganize volunteer security groups, which will monitor the areas around these places to prevent security incidents.

Suleiman stated that this step will revive community protection operations that were previously established during the migration operation known as Operation Metro Surge, which the federal government of the United States carried out in Minnesota, and which affected Somalis and other immigrant communities.

The Minneapolis police and the Hennepin County sheriff's office did not respond to questions from MPR News about whether they had received specific threats against the mosques, and whether they plan to increase their security.

Incidents that fueled the tension

This tension has intensified following security incidents that occurred in Minnesota in recent days, which led politicians and social media users to direct general accusations at Somalis.

On October 2, two Somali American teenagers were injured by gunfire outside a high school in Eden Prairie, while an American football game was being held there.

The police have stated that the incident is related to criminal gangs, and security officials have called for broad cooperation to combat the violence perpetrated by armed youth groups.

The situation escalated on Wednesday when U.S. security agencies announced the arrest of Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, an 18-year-old Somali American, who is accused of planning an attack on the Mall of America.

Federal prosecutors have stated that the suspect intended to carry out a mass casualty attack, but security agencies thwarted that plan. This case is not related to the shooting in Eden Prairie.

These events have intensified the debate about state security, with Somali leaders insisting that individuals accused of criminal acts should not be used to condemn an entire community.

Minnesota leaders respond to Trump

Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, has joined politicians condemning Trump's remarks, accusing the president of attempting to divide the people of America.

“You would expect the president of the United States to have more important issues to address than to spend his afternoon sowing division among the people of America,” Walz said in a message to his supporters.

Minnesota Attorney General, Keith Ellison, also defended the Somali community, stating that they are part of the state's community and should not be discriminated against.

Some community leaders have also expressed concern that the federal government may use the violence that occurred in the region as a pretext to send federal troops back to Minnesota.

This concern arose after Trump stated in his post that the people of Minnesota could request federal assistance.

Suleiman Adan ultimately called on Minnesota politicians to clearly defend the rights and safety of Somalis, noting that Somalis are an important part of the life and community of the region.

“Somalis are residents of Minnesota, just as they are part of the culture and life of the region. You must stand up to defend them, just as you would defend any part of your community that is being unjustly accused,” he said.