An Islamic center in far western Kentucky has been met with community support since President Donald Trump’s executive orders on immigration.
On Friday, Trump issued a temporary immigration ban on seven predominantly Muslim countries.
Ali Hassan is the resident Imam for The Islamic Center of Paducah, he says so far people have come to them expressing fear and concern over the ban. “There are people who are upset, people who are shaken up, people who are unsure how their future might be shaped in the country."
He said there has also been an outpouring of support to the center. "Overall, what we have gotten from local community leaders, from churches, from normal everyday people that we know...that’s what we’ve gotten so far- love and support from people locally.”
Hassan said the center provides resources daily for those with fear or concerns. He said he hopes “to get people calmed down and make sure they are reassured that everything will be okay.”
"We live in this community. Our kids go to schools here. We shop at supermarkets. We go to the same malls. We drive on the same streets. We're part of the same economic and social structure. Nobody wants to harm anybody," Hassan said.
He added that often media misrepresents Muslims and said the actions of one person should not be held against a vast majority of people. "Unless we are willing to sit down and talk to each other in a civilized manner and understand what the problems are and what the needs are of people I don't think we're going to get any further anywhere with the given circumstances."
Several churches in the area had 'no comment' on Trump's order or were unavailable for comment.
This story has been updated.
