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NORTH AmERIcAN Newsline APRIL 02, 2021 | The Indian Eye 28

Mohin Patel apologizes

for sharing “controversial and

hurtful” Facebook posts

Our Bureau “Edison is a rich and diverse

Edison, NJ community, and its leaders
should work to create an inclu-
he Vice President of Edi- sive environment welcoming of
son School Board of Ed- its Muslim residents.”
Tucation has publicly apol- Patel was the top vote get-
ogized for making anti-Muslim ter in last November’s Board
comments in the past. Mohin of Education race with 9,418
Patel apologized to Edison’s votes. He was also among the
Muslim community for shar- individuals named by United
ing “controversial and hurtful” States Postal Inspection Ser-
Facebook posts back in 2016, ac- vice report for his alleged in-
cording to a report in the Patch. volvement in the racist flyer
The incident came to light af- incident from November 2017.
ter New Jersey Globe published Earlier, the New Jersey
a story on Patel’s anti-Muslim Globe reported that Mohin
social media posts. Patel has a history of anti-Mus-
In his letter, Patel said that lim and anti-media posts on
at the time of sharing the social Facebook. On March 9, Patel
media post, events from “other shared on Facebook a picture
corners of the world” riled up of a bonfire adorned with pho-
sentiments and polarized lo- tographs of five individuals and
cal communities, “which led to the star and crescent of Islam.
people here picking sides and “Happy Holi, although a
commenting on internation- few more are missing in that
al affairs across the planet that Edison School Board Vice President Mohin Patel. pill (sic) like Kejrivalve, barkha
they had no direct control over.” (Photo: Via Linkedin) and India Today jurnos!!” Patel
“Regrettably, I too fell into wrote in the post, apparently
that trap,” said Patel, according Jewish, Sikh, Hindu, and oth- The New Jersey Chapter of referring to Delhi Chief Minis-
to Patch. er communities have over the the Council on American-Is- ter Arvind Kejriwal and Indian
The board member said he years shown me more con- lamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) news anchor Barkha Dutt.
has grown and matured over structive ways to engage in di- has welcomed Patel’s apology. A separate post, made in
the years and now has a “much alogues, and I thank them for “We welcome Mr. Patel’s apol- February, featured a comic that
deeper understanding of all the it,” Patel said, as quoted in the ogy letter for his anti-Muslim showed a Muslim man asking a
diverse communities in Edison.” Patch report. Facebook posts. Such postings Buddhist monk “why do you
“Back then, I used to stir up “I have learned that the Quran, should never be tolerated from pray to a rock” before showing
occasional debates on contro- much like my own holy books, local leaders,” Executive Di- the man praying to the Kaaba
versial topics. But my friends preaches forgiveness. And I rector Selaedin Maksut said in in Mecca, according to the re-
and mentors in the Muslim, humbly ask for your forgiveness.” a statement. port in New Jersey Globe.

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