by Joe Ulery
BRAZIL, Ind. (Indiana News Service) - A Muslim leader from Milwaukee is back home after spending nearly three months in immigration detention at the Clay County Jail in Brazil, Indiana.
Salah Sarsour, president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, was released by a federal judge. The release came days after about 150 people gathered outside the jail for an interfaith vigil organized by Jewish, Muslim and Christian supporters.
Maklah Bird, a Jewish community member who helped organize the event, said supporters were thrilled to see Sarsour reunited with his family.
“We’re absolutely thrilled that Salah is home with his family,” Bird emphasized. “His health was rapidly deteriorating. We also know that he was being detained for unjust reasons and he shouldn’t have been in there in the first place.”
Federal officials argued Sarsour’s detention was lawful but a federal judge ruled he should be released while his case moves forward.
Supporters said Sarsour’s health deteriorated while he was detained. They contend the diabetic community leader was denied the ability to regularly monitor his blood sugar and faced barriers to practicing his faith, including access to religious materials and halal food.
Bird pointed out the effort showed what can happen when people of different faiths come together around a common cause.
“We know that what actually keeps all of us safe, Muslims, Jews, Christians, is to have a strong multiracial, multifaith democracy that protects all of our freedoms,” Bird asserted. “The best way to do that is for us to stand up for each other.”
Bird hopes the spirit of cooperation continues beyond Sarsour’s case.