MURFREESBORO (AP) — Muslims are calling for action against a Tennessee state representative after he said Muslims shouldn't be allowed to serve in the U.S. military.
Rep. Rick Womick made the comments Friday during a conference of conservative activists that focused on the threat of Islamic extremism in America.
Local and national Muslims on Saturday called for state officials to rebuke Womick for the comments.
Womick, however, stood by his comments when reached Saturday by The Daily News Journal (http://on.dnj.com/rI8Ts5 ).
"Who are we at war with?" Womick said. "We are at war with al-Qaeda and the Taliban, who are Muslims. It's a Catch-22. They are not allowed to kill their fellow Muslims, we're at war with Muslims. The only solution I see is that they not be allowed in the military."
Islamic Center of Murfreesboro member Saleh Sbenaty said Womick should be reminded that thousands of Muslims have served and are serving in the U.S. military to preserve the country's freedoms and many have died for it.
While the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations requested a formal rebuke for Womick, Sbenaty went further.
"I believe he needs to be impeached immediately," said Sbenaty, who became a U.S. citizen after moving to Tennessee in 1982. "Or he needs to retract his remarks immediately and apologize to every Muslim in the United States and abroad."