Kahns Address Islamic Convention in Rosemont, Warn of 'Assault' on Community

ROSEMONT, IL -- The Muslim father of a fallen U.S. Army captain spoke at a conference in Rosemont on Saturday, warned attendees of the annual Islamic Society of North America conference that the assault on the Islamic community and religion would continue after the November election.

Gold Star parents, Khizr and Ghazala Khan, whose son, Capt. Humayan Khan, was killed in combat in Iraq in 2004, drew national headlines after their appearance at the Democratic National Convention in July.

Brandishing a pocket-sized U.S. Constitution, Khizr blasted Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s call to ban Muslims from entering the United States.

Ghazala, still overcome by grief at that loss of her son, stood silently behind her husband. Following the Kahns’ appearance at the convention, Trump suggested that the fallen captain’s mother was probably not allowed to speak during her husband’s speech.

Her husband defended his wife, stating she did not want to break down and still cannot be in a room where photos of her late son are displayed.

Before his speech Saturday afternoon in Rosemont, Khzr Khan said he was still carrying the same pocket-sized Constitution he waved during the Democratic National Convention.

Ghazala also added that everywhere she went “people's eyes full of tears, and their faces full of love," describing for reporters how their lives have changed since the speech.

Khzr Khan praised Muslim leaders and thanked the “scholars and mentors” in his life, the Chicago Tribune reported.

"I want all the scholars to teach us how to deal with this mess," Khizr Khan said. "We want you to teach us how to condemn violence. We are looking towards you to teach us how to deal with this chaos that is generated locally. How to participate in this process, how to be the citizen of democracy."

The Kahns were presented with the Outstanding Ambassadors of Islam Award during Saturday night’s session, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The Islamic Society of North America Convention is said to be the largest Muslim gathering in the United States and Canada.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson also delivered remarks Saturday, the first sitting cabinet secretary and highest ranking U.S. government official to personally address the ISNA convention.

Screenshots of Khizr and Ghazala Khan, from DNC video footage from YouTube.