Donald Trump Named 'Islamophobe of the Year' by UK Islamic Group
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has been named "Islamophobe of the Year" by a U.K.-based Islamic rights group.
The Islamic Human Rights Commission announced the Manhattan real estate mogul as its so-called "Islamophobe of the Year" at its annual satirical "Islamophobia Awards" gala dinner that was held on Saturday, according to a statement issued by the organization.
The billionaire GOP frontrunner took home the the organization's top award after he issued a call last December for a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States."
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Trump's call to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. came after 14 civilians were killed by two radicalized terrorists believed to have ties to external terrorist organizations in San Bernardino, California, the week before.
"It is bad enough that anyone can come out with such arrogant, unapologetic bigotry and hate speech but I think what is really frightening is that Donald Trump is supported by such a large number of voters in what is the most powerful nation in the world," IHRC Chairman Massoud Shadjareh told Time magazine.
Besides "Islamophobe of the Year," the organization issued four other "Islamophobia Awards" that were divided into various categories — international, U.K., entertainment (books, movies, T.V. series), and news media.
Trump was not the only U.S. presidential candidate nominated for the international "Islamophobia" award. Fellow Republican candidate and retired neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson was also nominated for the award.
A press release from February announcing the nominations states that both Carson and Trump were nominated because they are "comfortable attacking Muslims during their respective campaigns for president." HBO political talk show host Bill Maher was also nominated for the international award.
Although the international "Islamophobia" award had a number of nominees, it was the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo that won international category. In January 2015, 12 employees of the magazine were killed and 11 others wounded when two Islamic gunmen attacked the magazine's offices in France after the publication published a cartoon of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
Time reports that the IHRC took a lot of heat last year when it named Charlie Hebdo as the "Islamophobe of the Year" just months after the magazine was attacked.
"I think people misunderstood the award that was given to Charlie Hebdo, it wasn't anything to do with the act of terrorism in Paris," Shadjareh argued. "The point is this: if Charlie Hebdo says they have the right with satire to make fun of anyone, then why can't we have the same right?"
British Prime Minister David Cameron won the U.K. category. According to the group, Cameron won the award because of his "comments about Muslim women needing to learn English and being 'traditionally submissive.'"
Because the award presentation dinner was satirical, none of the winners were present to accept their awards.
According to Breitbart London, the IHRC is a "shiite-dominated," "Hezbolla-sympathizing" organization that has campaigned in the past for convicted terrorists.
