Outrage as Cruz takes lead in anti-Islam rhetoric amid Brussels terror

Brussels deadly terror claimed by Daesh Takfiris has given GOP presidential candidate Ted Cruz the chance to promote the party’s Islamophobic narrative by proposing preventive measures in Muslim neighborhoods to stop them “before they become radicalized."

The Texas senator’s Tuesday proposal to “patrol and secure” neighborhoods populated by Muslims sparked fury among Democrats, rights activists, and Muslim leaders.

His remarks followed two terrorist attacks in the EU’s de facto capital, which left over 30 people dead.

"We need to empower law enforcement to patrol and secure Muslim neighborhoods before they become radicalized," Cruz wrote in a statement released by his campaign. "Our European allies are now seeing what comes of a toxic mix of migrants who have been infiltrated by terrorists and isolated, radical Muslim neighborhoods."

He also added that the US should "secure the southern border to prevent terrorist infiltration."

In statement released to The Hill later, Cruz elaborated on his proposal, saying, “We know what is happening with these isolated Muslim neighborhoods in Europe… If we want to prevent it from happening here, it is going to require an empowered, visible law enforcement presence that will both identify problem spots and partner with non-radical Americans who want to protect their homes.”

Outrage at Cruz stance

The hawkish senator’s reaction was part of a race with another notoriously anti-Islam candidate, Donald Trump, to “gin up racism-fueled xenophobia,” said Credo Action political director Murshed Zaheed.

"Scapegoating entire communities and encouraging Americans to be suspicious of their Muslim neighbors may score points with some Republican primary voters, but it won’t do anything to make us safer,” Zaheed noted in a statement.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) was also outraged by the “shocking” comments.

“It’s shocking that a leading presidential candidate in our nation in 2016 would suggest monitoring a section of our American society just because of its religious faith,” CAIR executive director Nihad Awad told the Hill. “He claims in his speeches to defend religious liberty, but he seems to be fake when it comes to this.”

New York Democratic Senator Charles Schumer (pictured above) also censured Cruz’s proposal, saying at a press conference,"That's not what we do in America. We don't take a race, religion, creed, color and say we're monitoring everybody. We look for terrorism where it is, and we pursue it relentlessly. That's what we should do; that's what I believe the administration is doing.”

Cruz and Trump have previously attacked Muslims following terrorist attacks by Daesh affiliates.

Tuesday’s attacks, coordinated from a northern suburb of Brussels called Schaarbeek, drew the world’s ire as at least 11 people died in suicide bombing in the Zaventem airport and 20 others were killed in Maelbeek metro station near the US Embassy and European Union headquarters.

The attacks took place although the Belgian police was on high alert over a potential revenge attack, following the Friday detention of the main suspect in last November’s deadly attacks in Paris, Salah Abdeslam.

Abdeslam, a Belgian-born French national of Moroccan descent, was arrested in the Molenbeek area of Brussels after months on the run.

US steps up security

Security was also stepped up in the US amid fears of similar deadly attacks by Takfiris just like the one in San Bernardino, California, late last year.

The Los Angeles Police department said it deployed units to “major places where people congregate” and “critical infrastructures” sites.

New York City also said it was at the highest state of vigilance.

“The community of nations has to stand together in moments like this and reject the the forces of terror and the appalling violence that they reek upon innocent people,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said during a press conference Tuesday. “We in New York City stand ready to fight against terror in every way.”

Chicago and Washington went through a similar situation as major airlines canceled and rerouted flights headed to the Brussels airport, which will remain closed all day long on Wednesday.

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