With G-d's Name, The Merciful Benefactor, The Merciful Redeemer

(LOS ANGELES, CA, 3/23/16) – Muslim American groups and leaders are expressing solidarity with the people of Belgium after another series of terrorist attacks killed and injured hundreds of innocent people.

"Our sincerest thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims of all who were impacted by the attacks in these countries," stated Salam Al-Marayati, executive director for the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC). "Whether in Belgium, Turkey, or Mali -- We must stand united for the common cause of ending all violence and attacks on our values as Americans and people of conscience."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) also expressed solidarity with the people of Belgium and other nations, who have been recently 'targeted by global terror attacks' and repudiated any politicians who are 'taking political advantage of the tragedy for their own selfish gains.'

CAIR decried GOP presidential candidate Ted Cruz’s call for law enforcement to “patrol and secure Muslim neighborhoods” and the naming of anti-Islamic extremist, Walid Phares as one of leading GOP candidate Donald Trump’s policy advisers.

In a Facebook post, Cruz said: “We need to empower law enforcement to patrol and secure Muslim neighborhoods before they become radicalized.”

SEE: Cruz Calls for Patrols of Muslim Neighborhoods

In a recent meeting with The Washington Post's editorial board, Trump named Phares as one of his foreign policy advisers. As the Post pointed out, “Phares was once a leading ideologue in an armed Christian faction during Lebanon's grim, bloody sectarian civil conflict of the 1980s.”

SEE: The Dark, Controversial Past of Trump’s Counterterrorism Adviser Walid Phares

“The actions and policy recommendations of the two leading GOP presidential candidates send an alarming message to American Muslims who increasingly fear for their future in this nation and to all Americans who value the Constitution and religious liberties," stated CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad.

"Mr. Cruz’s call for law enforcement to ‘patrol and secure’ neighborhoods in which American Muslim families live is not only unconstitutional, it is unbefitting anyone seeking our nation’s highest office and indicates that he lacks the temperament necessary for any president."

“Mr. Trump’s naming of a policy adviser who was once linked to a foreign anti-Muslim militia sends the message that American Muslims would be targeted in a Trump administration."

The response from presidential candidates Donald Trump and Ted Cruz to the attacks in Brussels only seem to fuel the rage within their constituency and push their political agenda. Most Muslim Americans view their proposals to “close our borders” and “patrol Muslim neighborhoods” as wicked opportunism and a divisive measure to push fear-driven policies on American voters.

"We cannot ignore the undeniable violence we have seen in various countries across the world recently," stated Al-Marayati. "What the world needs now are leaders who are able to take on the complexities of the challenges we currently face, be able to look past politics and offer real solutions on the issues.