Imam Husham Al-Husainy speaking at the rally. Photo: Karbala Center

DEARBORN — There was a “pro-ISIS” rally in Dearborn, a widely circulated social media post is claiming. But the gathering portrayed in the photo that was shared thousands of times is actually of a demonstration against terrorism.

The march, on Dec. 5, which was organized by Karbala Center in Detroit, commemorated the 40th day of Imam Hussain’s death. Shi’a Muslims mourn for the first 10 days of the Islamic lunar calendar to remember Hussain, the prophet Mohamad’s grandson, who was killed by Yazeed, the second Umayyad Caliph in 680 A.D. 

A local annual rally observes the 40th day for Hussain’s death, known in Arabic as “Arbaeen.” This year, religious leaders took the opportunity to denounce extremism at the rally after the San Bernardino shooting.

“99 percent of ISIS victims are Muslim,” read a banner in the demonstration. Signs and chants also condemned the terror group.

However, a photo of a side of the rally that showed black flags was accompanied with a caption alleging that the crowd is in support of extremists.

“This is Dearborn Michigan after the radical Islamic attack in California! These are Isis flags and Isis supporters folks but the media has not reported because of politically correctness,” Facebook user Joseph DAlessio wrote of the demonstration.

The post was shared 3,739 times by Tuesday. The same claim also circulated on Twitter. Users often accompanied the picture with comments calling for violence against Muslims. One Facebook status called for “purging” Dearborn.

“The problem is not only the Neanderthals in the street there, but the traitors that are going around them instead of plowing into them,” wrote Facebook user Mitch Alan Boatman. 

New York Magazine and prominent fact-checking website Snopes wrote stories asserting that the rally is anti- not pro-ISIS.

Imam Husham Al-Husainy, of Karbala Center, said it was clear that the rally was to make a stand against terrorism. 

“Open your eyes and look at the reality,” he said, addressing social media users. “Read our banners. Listen to our slogans. Don’t let hatred control your judgement.”

The rally was covered by local media outlets, including WXYZ.

Al-Husainy said the speeches and chants at the demonstration also denounced extremism.

“Our history speaks for itself,” Al-Husainy added. “We condemned al-Qaeda 10 years ago, and we continue to stand against terrorism today.”

The imam said the nature of  the march, which also commemorated Hussain, cannot be pro-terrorism. 

“Hussain was a force against oppression,” he said. “ISIS and its likes are forces of oppression. The extremism slaughtered him.”

Al-Husainy described Imam Hussain as the first victim of ISIS.

“With all these factors, if they believe we are pro-ISIS, that’s their problem, not ours,” Al-Husainy said. 

The imam said his center has gone to great lengths to address misconceptions.

Last year, The Arab American News published an editorial calling for rethinking the “Arbaeen” march because of the misunderstandings it may cause. 

Al-Husainy said his center was responsive to the editorial by including more colored flags in the rally, instead of the black flag, which expresses grieving for Imam Hussain.

“Satisfying people is an unattainable task,” he said quoting an Arabic proverb. 

Al-Husainy said the rally meant to voice Muslim Americans’ real views on terrorism after the San Bernardino shooting.

“Somebody has to stand up and say the truth,” the imam told The Arab American News. “You are doing it in the paper; we are doing it in the streets.” 

Anthony Battaglia, a Dearborn resident and Hamtramck High School teacher, was angered by the “ignorance” displayed by the misleading social media posts. 

“We’ve come to a point where people see Arabic writing, and that’s enough for them to call others Daesh,” he said, using the Arabic acronym of ISIS.

The teacher added that lack of knowledge of Middle Eastern culture and the Muslim religion is helping fuel Islamophobia.