BUCKHANNON — In a statement released on Saturday, Buckhannon City Council candidate Asad Derya Khan admitted to posing on social media, “In America you’re more likely to be killed by a Trump supporter than a Muslim Terrorist.”
“I did post that in our world today, we are more likely to get killed by an extreme right supporter of Donald Trump, rather than a Muslim terrorist. I posted this because of the extreme amount of hate that has been circulating about Muslims and our religion. I have had to hide my beliefs because of this. People have, and still will, threaten my life because of my religion. This is not right! Extremists of both sides threaten to kill people that have not done absolutely nothing wrong.”
While Khan appears to be attempting to walk-back his previous remarks, as he is running to represent a city that consists of approximately 70 percent Republicans, his initial remarks still remain.
On his original social media account, Khan shared, “In America, you’re more likely to be killed by a Trump Supporter than a Muslim terrorist.”
He did not make a distinction between regular Trump supporters and fringe alt-right domestic terrorist organizations. Khan’s remarks were actually part of a pattern of posts, demeaning and degrading Trump supporters.
In another remark, dated June 20, 2019, Khan expressed, “USA hat and M.A.G.A hat… Doesn’t really scare me. Just lets me know who’s the less intelligent.”
These remarks were obtained exclusively by Mountaineer Journal, as Khan deactivated his personal Facebook account (creating a new one), prior to his run for Buckhannon City Council.