WASHINGTON (RNS) — A Michigan imam was unexpectedly absent from President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, raising questions as to why the Islamic leader did not offer a benediction as scheduled.
Earlier this month, officials listed Imam Husham Al-Husainy, who runs the Karbalaa Islamic Education Center, among the four faith leaders who would offer a benediction at Trump’s inauguration. The presence of the Islamic leader — believed to be the first who would have offered a prayer at an inauguration — was seen as a nod to Trump’s unexpected gains with Muslim Americans during the campaign: Al-Husainy, a Shia Muslim cleric who expressed support for Trump during the campaign, hails from Dearborn, a city with a large Muslim American population.
The reason for his absence was not immediately clear. Although listed on earlier copies of the inauguration bulletin sent to press, Al-Husainy’s name was not on the version of the program handed out to attendees on Monday morning.
Efforts to reach Al-Husainy and the Karbaala Islamic Education Center were unsuccessful, and inauguration officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Al-Husainy’s association with Trump was seen as controversial in some conservative pro-Israel circles. The announcement of his involvement with Trump’s inauguration spurred outlets such as the New York Post to draw attention to Al-Husainy’s 2007 appearance on the Fox News show “Hannity & Colmes.” According to a transcript …