A new tweet by US President claiming that some prayer rugs were found on Mexico border has been blasted as both Islamophobic and racist.

Iran Press/America: The tweet of US President Donald Trump has led to a flood of condemnation from American Muslims who have launched “my prayer rug” campaign in defense of their identity.

“Would you ever say this about Rosary Beads? No, for you “a prayer rug” is like a smoking gun or a bag of cocaine, it means “Muslim” and Muslim means “criminal.” #myPrayerRug asking everyone to share theirs,” Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the Chicago chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), wrote on Twitter, launching the hashtag campaign, Iran Press reported.

It all started with a tweet from Trump saying, “Border rancher: “We’ve found prayer rugs out here. It’s unreal.” Washington Examiner People coming across the Southern Border from many countries, some of which would be a big surprise.”

#MyPrayerRug reminds me that I’m honored to bow down to the Creator of the Heavens of the Earth every day, like Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (peace be upon them) and that this life is temporary and illusory and short and Kingdom belongs to the Most High who loves the humble https://t.co/8BX2VTmsz3

— Hassan Shibly (@HassanShibly) 18 January 2019

Replying to him, American Muslim comedian Dean Obeidallah wrote, “Trump got us! We Muslims leave our prayer rugs around to claim the land. We call it our Victory Prayer Rugs! Now what will we do? Or could it be the Border rancher confused a prayer rug with a small blanket? Who cares about facts though when Trump is trying to fear monger.”

People on social media considered Trump’s tweet a “racist” attack on the migrants and Muslims alike.

#MyPrayerRug is used for to connect with God, quiet contemplation and reflection 5 times a day. To equate it with anything else is reprehensible. https://t.co/Vh4pegX0Tj

— MuslimWomensAlliance (@MWAChicago) 18 January 2019

Muslims pray five times a day, with each prayer made of a series of postures and movements, each set of which is called a rak‘ah.

The five prayer times are divided all through the day, and start with Fajr prayer at dawn.

Prayer rugs are used for prayers not for Islamophobic fear mongering tactics. Shameful and disgraceful remarks. You have dishonored this country and the US Constitution. #MyPrayerRug pic.twitter.com/WFtA2xNObQ

— Faisal R Khan (@frkhan87) 18 January 2019

On Jan 19, the New York Times reported that US President's claim about Islamic migrants entering the US through the southern border with Mexico is totally baseless.

#MyPrayerRug Poor souls never know the treasure of prayers ! pic.twitter.com/l5PPxrrMOh

— Sherine Awad (@Sherine_3wad) 19 January 2019

Starting as early as 2005, politicians have claimed to have discovered discarded prayer rugs — and perhaps even the Holy Quran or “a lot of stuff written in Arabic” — at the southern border, hinting without evidence that Islamic migrants were entering the United States through Mexico and could pose a terrorism threat, The New York Times reported.

.@realDonaldTrump continues his hateful onslaught against Muslims. Through his fearmonngering he spreads division in America. A prayer rug isn’t nefarious but Trump’s hate rhetoric is, don’t be fooled. #myprayerrug pic.twitter.com/hwFoxaeVh3

— Muhammad Akbar (@M_T_Akbar) 18 January 2019

Trump’s tweet revived this long-running and still unproved rumor. He was citing an interview in The Washington Examiner, a conservative newspaper, with one anonymous female rancher who lives on the border with Mexico.105/ 211 /201

Read More:

Trump’s baseless claim about Islamic migrants entering the US through Mexico