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Religious Leaders Slam Vito’s Islam Lunch

State Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, talks to reporters earlier this year. (AP file photo)

Three Idaho interfaith groups have released a statement condemning last week’s luncheon in a Statehouse meeting room, organized by state Rep. Vito Barbieri, that featured a speaker on “The True Face of Islam,” suggesting Muslims are trying to infiltrate and take over conservative western regions of the United States. The interfaith groups, the Interfaith Alliance, the Interfaith Equality Coalition and Healing Our Future, said, “As people of faith and conscience and as citizens of Idaho, it is heartbreaking for us to see a lack of understanding, fear and suspicion of unfamiliar faiths and refugees.” They called the talk “a glaring example of this kind of ignorance and fear mongering,” and said, “There are many issues that require our time, money, and attention in this state. Keeping out Muslims is not one of them”/Betsy Russell, Eye on Boise. More here.

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D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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