Appointment of Muslim Judge in Tiny Mississippi Town Brings Social Media Attacks
Online misinformation and harassment spread after the Muslim attorney’s appointment, while a state senator called for her removal from the bench.
- Newly appointed Municipal Judge Assma Ali faces calls for removal in Benoit, Mississippi, following online misinformation and harassment. Ali, an American citizen of Yemeni descent, was sworn in on Aug. 5 to serve the town of fewer than 400 residents.
- Social media influencers and politicians falsely alleged Ali was appointed in Ridgeland, nearly 130 miles from Benoit. Critics attacked the immigration lawyer for her religion, claiming without substantiation that she would impose Islamic law.
- Frank Rosenblatt, a professor at Mississippi Christian University School of Law, defended Ali, stating the U.S. and Mississippi constitutions prohibit disqualifying officials based on religion. Ali emphasized, "I only represent one law, and that's the U.S. Constitution."
- On Aug. 10, Mississippi Sen. Michael McLendon, R-Hernando, called for Ali's removal, accusing her of "fighting deportations." Ridgeland published a press release refuting the misinformation, clarifying there are no new judicial appointments in their municipality.
- With more than 200 municipal judges statewide, these part-time positions typically involve handling city ordinance violations, traffic cases, and misdemeanor crimes. State law allows municipalities with fewer than 20,000 residents to appoint judges who do not live in the service area.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Associated Press News
Appointment of Muslim judge in tiny Mississippi town brings social media attacks
Assma Ali's appointment as a municipal judge in a small Mississippi Delta town has sparked social media backlash due to her Muslim faith.
Muslim Woman Becomes Municipal Judge in Mississippi Delta Town Amid a Flurry of Bigotry
Assma Ali has made history. The daughter of Yemeni immigrants to the United States, Ali is now municipal judge for the City of Benoit, a small town in southwest Bolivar County in the Mississippi Delta—but she is also dealing with misinformation and threats following her appointment. The post Muslim Woman Becomes Municipal Judge in Small Delta Town, a First for Mississippi Amid a Flurry of Bigotry appeared first on Mississippi Free Press.
The management of the swimming pool claims that the burkini is not banned, but the type of clothing in which the visitor wanted to enter the water is allegedly controversial.
Let's make assumptions: in Italy some Islamic nurses ask that, among their duties, it is excluded to make beds because it is a job for women. In several public schools some Islamic families ask that girls do not do gymnastics lessons together with companions, or that girls enter school with veil or other covers. The previous hypotheses are not so: they are really happened, ended in newspapers little and badly, that I have learned in recent years…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 54% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
