Republicans Against Muslim Led Prayer

Republican leaders in the North Dakota House canceled their opening prayer on Ash Wednesday because it was scheduled to be led by a Muslim.

Valley City Republican Rep. Dwight Kiefert was one person against the prayer saying he would welcome a Muslim to lead the prayer as long as it was on a different day.

The issue came to light after a controversial Facebook post by District 24 Republicans calling the decision to have a Muslim speak on Ash Wednesday “political correctness at its worst.”

Dr. Nadim Koleilat, board president of the Bismarck Muslim Community Center, ended up giving the invocation in the Senate instead of the House.