An article on the dangers of Islam and Muslims “infiltrating parts of Idaho” that appeared in the latest Bonneville County Republican Party Central Committee newsletter has Pocatello Dr. Fahim Rahim pretty upset.

    Rahim, a Muslim, came to the U.S. from Pakistan and made the trip from New York with his family and his brother Naeem’s family 11 years ago when they established the Idaho Kidney Institute in Pocatello and the JRM Foundation for Humanity. The brothers also won the Ellis Island Medals of Honor in 2011 and have sponsored the Idaho Hometown Heroes awards for the past three years. Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter was among the recipients in 2013.

 The Bonneville GOP newsletter article was authored by executive director of the Bonneville Republican Central Committee Becky Prestwich. But because it was on the newsletter next to a photo of  that county’s GOP county Chairman Doyle Beck, and was written in the first person, Rahim addressed his response to Beck personally.

    Rahim had been contacted by the Idaho Falls Post Register for a response to the newsletter article.

    “It is no secret that the ‘Islamatization’ of America is a widespread fear. I am not fully versed on the Qu’ran but I have studied it to some degree,” Prestwich’s article states.

   The author goes on to note the Quran is organized into books called Suras.

    “There are at least 109 Sura’s that advocate violence and death towards infidels. And make no mistake; if you are not a Muslim, you are an infidel. Period,” it states.

    The article continues to warn readers that Muslims are deceptive and only trying to get along with non-believers when it suits their mission. Once they are called to jihad, all non-Muslims will be killed.

    “Over the last decade I have made several hundred friends and colleagues in Idaho most of them either belong to LDS religion or other forms of Christianity,” Fahim said in his emailed response. “Just like you they have read snippets of Quran without a historical context of Islam. I have read pages and chapters of the Book of Mormon and the Bible, but after meeting such amazing people in Idaho who practice several different forms of religion, I have a great respect and understanding for all the religions because I have personally learned and interacted with the people who practice them.”

    The GOP newsletter piece goes on to say that people need to contact their legislators about the influx of Muslims into Idaho and warns about the pending danger.

    “I, for one, believe this is something to take seriously,” Prestwich states. “If you do too, contact your legislators and let them know you expect them to look into this. Please, don’t wait until something bad happens.”

    Fahim said he doesn’t see anything good coming from this kind of fear-mongering.

    “We Idahoans are building bridges of love and understanding so our next generations can thrive and love each other regardless of our culture, religion and identity, Fahim wrote. “Please don’t spoil it for your political gains. And stop spreading hatred and fear.”

    Rahim pointed out that the Islamic State and al-Qaida are terrorist organizations and don’t speak for the Muslim faith. He said to paint all Muslims based on the conduct of extremists would be like using Warren Jeffs as an example of the Mormon religion or Timothy  McVeigh as a representative of Catholicism.

    Then Fahim concluded his email message to the Bonneville County GOP author by offering a hand of friendship.

    “I am also fairly sure unlike me who has several hundred friends who belong to other religions, you likely don’t have a Muslim American friend or colleague and I will be happy to offer my friendship and maybe you should come and spend some time with me and my children,” Fahim wrote.

    After being contacted by the Journal, Prestwich said she had not seen Fahim’s emailed response.

    “The article called ‘Islam in Idaho’ was an opinion piece I wrote and included in the BCRCC Newsletter. These views are not necessarily the views of the BCRCC,” Prestwich wrote in an email Wednesday night.  “While I in no way believe or indicate that all those who claim the Muslim faith as their own are radical or dangerous, I do make the assertion that, if only 10 percent of Muslims are of the radical variety, that equates to some 160 million adherents bent on holy jihad. And you are hard pressed to find very many peaceful Muslims who will condemn the acts of these radicals.”

    Prestwich went on to say it’s wrong to “pretend there isn’t a potential problem in America or even Idaho.

    “To accuse me of bigotry (as I’ve heard was at least one response) because I see the potential for the same kinds of things that are happening around the world to happen here is simply political correctness at its worst,” she wrote. 

    A photo of a mosque prayer service inside the new Pocatello mosque is included with the GOP opinion piece. Under the photo it states that when the facility was remodeled last year, it was done over “the objections of many citizens,” but with the support of Mayor Brian Blad and other city leaders.

    Blad said he’s proud of that support.

    “What I think is important is as city leaders we’re not willing to discriminate against anyone,” Blad said. “We will be supportive of any place of worship.”

    The mayor said Muslims have contributed a lot to the community and have made efforts to become part of it.

    “That’s how it should be,” Blad said.

    Fahim posted his response to the Bonneville County GOP newsletter article on his Facebook page and immediately began receiving support for its content. As of press time Wednesday, Fahim had been contacted by CBS News about his response to the Bonneville County Republican’s opinion piece.