Sharia Law 'Vigilante' In Minnesota Is From Walton County

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — A Minnesota man originally from Walton County has sparked anger by trying to enforce his idea of sharia law in a heavily Muslim community.

Wearing a dark green uniform with the words "Muslim Defense Force" and "Religious Police" on it, Abdullah Rashid, 22, has been going around the Somali-dominated Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis, telling people how to behave and women how to dress, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.

Known previously as Devon James Miller, Rashid grew up in Walton County and moved to Minneapolis about a year ago, the paper reported.

The Star Tribune reported that he was arrested as a juvenile in Walton County for impersonating a police officer and that school records show he had harassed a 16-year-old classmate on Facebook. A school district report mentioned he had mental health issues.

Residents of Cedar-Riverside have raised concerns about Rashid and local Muslim leaders have condemned his actions.

"What he’s doing is wrong and doesn’t reflect the community at all," said Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), to the Star Tribune.

To read the original report from the Minneapolis Star Tribune, click here.

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