ST. LOUIS (KMOX) — A local Muslim group is upset with comments made by one candidate about another in the race for St. Louis Board of Aldermen President.
Faizan Syed is Executive Director for the Council on American Islamic Relations in Missouri. He's upset that Aldermanic President Lewis Reed called his opponent, State Senator Jamilah Nasheed, a "double agent."
"In our community, when we hear the phrase 'double agent,' it reminds us that, all across the country, Muslim-Americans have to constantly stand up and say 'we are patriotic Americans.'"
Reed says he was referring to Nasheed's voting record in Jefferson City, that it's more in line with Republicans than Democrats.
The Muslim group also didn't like Reed's campaign saying Nasheed should appear on the ballot under her birth name, Jennice Williams. Not recongizing a Muslim's chosen new name is a problem, Syed said.
"When Muhammad Ali changed his name from Cassius Clay (to Ali), many people at that time would purposely not use his name...they'd purposely call him 'Cassius Clay' and they'd refer to him by that (name)."
Reed says it's a question of what her legal name is.
Nasheed has said a judge approved her name change in 2005.