Area Muslims pledge to help in fight against terror threat

YOUNGSTOWN — Muslims and Arab-Americans in the Mahoning Valley agree with President Barack Obama’s characterization of ISIS as criminals and thugs and pledge to report any unusual activity to authorities.

“What we believe as the Muslim community here is even though we have the local and state police and the FBI, we need also to play a huge role in this,” said Ned Seder of Canfield.

On Sunday night, Obama called on the American Muslim community to be a partner in the fight against radical Islam. He said Muslims can send credible, effective countermessages and undermine jihadist propaganda.

“Eighty percent of people who come to this country come because they know somebody,” Seder said. “We know if someone new comes to our community, we know who it is. We interact with the new people. If we see something out of the ordinary, we would be the first people to tell.”

He came to the United States from his native Jordan 29 years ago and said he views such reporting as an obligation.

“As I told the mayor and the police chief, we came to this country as immigrants and chose to be Americans – and that is a very honorable thing,” said Seder, who owns a Boardman business. “By your own action to become a citizen, you have to act upon that.”

Seder and a couple of others from the Muslim community met recently with Mayor John A. McNally and Police Chief Robin Lees.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com