Muslim leader challenges Donald Trump over Sept. 11 claims

In this Nov. 20, 2015, photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a town hall meeting at the Ben Johnson Arena on the Wofford College campus in Spartanburg, S.C. If truth is the first casualty of war, it can also take a beating in a time of terrorism. A week of raging debate over Syrian refugees and Islamic State violence has scattered misinformation everywhere. In the Republican presidential contest, Trump found himself with a potential new rival, the Constitution, in calling for a registry of Muslim citizens. AP

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey — The leader of a national Muslim-American organization calls Donald Trump’s claim that he saw Jersey City residents celebrating on the day of the 2001 terrorist attacks “vicious,” and he invites the Republican presidential candidate to come to the city and meet with Muslims.

Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said Thursday that Trump has produced no evidence to back up his claim that he saw television reports of “thousands of people” in Jersey City cheering as the World Trade Center towers fell Sept. 11, 2001.

Awad says Trump should be held “at least partly responsible” for an increase in hostility toward Muslims in the US because of his rhetoric.

Both Gov. Chris Christie, another presidential candidate, and Jersey City’s mayor say Trump’s claim is wrong.

Trump’s campaign didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

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