Khizr and Ghazala Khan

Ghazala (left) and Khizr Khan speak with VOA's Urdu service in Washington, D.C., August 1, 2016

Khizr Muazzam Khan (born 1950) and Ghazala Khan (born 1951) are the Pakistani American parents of United States Army Captain Humayun Khan, who was killed in 2004 during the Iraq War. The couple received international attention following a speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention that criticized Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Biography

Khizr Khan was born in 1950, the eldest of ten children, to poultry farming parents in Gujranwala, a city in Pakistan's Punjab Province.[1][2] Ghazala is also from Punjab, born in 1951 in Faisalabad.[1][3] The couple met while attending the University of Punjab, where Ghazala studied Persian and Khizr pursued an LL.B. in the Law College.[1] Khizr passed the Punjab bar in 1974.[1] Once married, the couple moved to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to earn money to move to the United States.[1] Two of their sons, Shaharyar and Humayun, were born in Dubai.[1]

Immigration to the United States

They moved from the UAE to the United States in 1980, first to Houston, Texas. Khizr mentioned in 1983 that he received an LL.M. from University of Missouri Law School in 1982.[4]

Later they moved to Massachusetts, where Khizr earned an LL.M. degree from Harvard Law School, graduating in 1986. They became American citizens the same year.[1] Khizr, Ghazala, and their two sons then moved to Silver Spring, Maryland, where their third son, Omer, was born.[1][5][6]

Khizr went on to work at the Washington, D.C., office of the law firm of Hogan & Hartson where he was employed as the firm's manager of litigation technology from 2000 to 2007.[7]

Death of Humayun Khan

Their middle child, Humayun, attended the University of Virginia, where he became a cadet in their Army ROTC program. Upon graduating in 2000, he was commissioned in the Army as a way to earn money for law school and because, according to Khizr, Humayun "felt that ROTC had completed him as a person, and he wanted to give back."[8][9] He rose to the rank of captain and served in Iraq during the Iraq War.

In 2004, Humayun was killed in Baqubah, Iraq, in an explosion. He was inspecting a guard post when he saw a suspicious vehicle approaching. Ordering his subordinates to stay back, he stepped forward to engage. The car was later determined to have been carrying more than 200 pounds of explosives, and when it detonated he was killed along with the two suicide attackers.[5][6][8] He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart[5] and is interred at Arlington National Cemetery.[1]

Move to Virginia

The Khans moved to Charlottesville, Virginia, following Humayun's death, to be closer to their other sons.[1] After moving, they became heavily involved with the Army R.O.T.C. program at the University of Virginia, where Humayun had been a cadet, and became known as the "mom and pop of the department".[1] Ghazala began working at a fabric store and Khizr continued his legal consulting, working in commercial law and specializing in electronic discovery.[1]

In 2008, the Khans participated in an HBO documentary, Section 60: Arlington National Cemetery, featuring visitors to the section of Arlington National Cemetery where their son, and many other United States military personnel who died in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, are buried.[10][11]

2016 DNC speech

Khizr Khan speaks at the 2016 Democratic National Convention

On July 28, the final day of the 2016 Democratic National Convention, Khizr, accompanied by Ghazala, gave a speech about their son Humayun, during which he harshly criticized Republican nominee for president, Donald Trump.[12][13][14][15] Khan took issue with several of Trump's policies, including his proposed ban on Muslim immigration.[16] Many news outlets focused on two passages from the speech in particular:

Donald Trump, you're asking Americans to trust you with their future. Let me ask you, have you even read the United States Constitution? I will gladly lend you my copy. In this document, look for the words "liberty" and "equal protection of law."[14][16][17][18][19]

Have you ever been to Arlington Cemetery? Go look at the graves of brave patriots who died defending the United States of America. You will see all faiths, genders, and ethnicities. You have sacrificed nothing—and no one.[14][16][18][20]

ACLU Constitution Tee

When Khizr offered to lend Trump his copy of the Constitution, he pulled a small version of the document from his pocket, holding it up and gesturing with it, in what the Washington Post called the most memorable image from the convention.[21][22] Khan said afterwards that the gesture was unplanned, and that he ad-libbed the sentence about lending Trump his copy upon realizing he had it in his pocket.[19][23][24] According to the New York Times, Khan has long kept a supply of pocket Constitutions in his home, carrying one around and distributing copies to visitors "the way other hosts might distribute a party favor."[1] Following the speech, sales of pocket Constitutions soared, with one 2005 edition rising to the second position on Amazon.com's bestsellers list.[19][22] The ACLU offered everybody a free copy until Election Day (November 8, 2016), but public demand (reportedly over 100,000)[25] exhausted their supply within days.[26] The ACLU also offered an "I'll gladly lend you mine" graphic tee shirt.[27]

New York magazine's Andrew Sullivan declared the speech "the fulcrum of this election," and one minute after it had ended, a spike in searches for "register to vote" was seen on Google.[28][29][30][31][32]

Aftermath of speech

In an interview with ABC News, George Stephanopoulos asked Trump about the content of the speech, asking him to respond to the charge that he had not made sacrifices. Trump began by suggesting that Hillary Clinton's campaign staff had written the speech (according to Khizr, they wrote it themselves),[23] and said, "I think I've made a lot of sacrifices...I've created thousands and thousands of jobs, tens of thousands of jobs, built great structures. I've had tremendous success. I think I've done a lot."[20][33] He went on to describe financial help he has provided for veterans' causes.[34] Trump also remarked on Ghazala's presence on stage, implying a connection between her silence and gender roles in Islam: "If you look at his wife, she was standing there. She had nothing to say. She probably — maybe she wasn't allowed to have anything to say. You tell me."[20][35][36][37]

Trump's comments sparked widespread outrage and condemnation from both Democrats and Republicans, and were widely reported in the press.[16][18] Prominently, Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona, who Khizr says was a hero to Humayun,[38] issued a statement about what he called his "most severe disagreement" with Trump, saying "While our party has bestowed upon him the nomination, it is not accompanied by unfettered license to defame those who are the best among us."[39][40][41] In a Washington Post op-ed, Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine cited Trump's treatment of the Khans as one of the major reasons why she "will not be voting for Donald Trump for president." [42][43]

Directly responding to Trump's comments, Ghazala wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post, explaining that while she was asked if she wanted to speak, she felt she would be too upset to do so.[44] Muslim American women took to social media with the hashtag "#CanYouHearUsNow" to protest Trump's comments.[45]

The organization Veterans of Foreign Wars issued a statement saying, "Election year or not, the VFW will not tolerate anyone berating a Gold Star family member for exercising his or her right of speech or expression."[46][47] Paul Rieckhoff of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America said that Trump's comparison of his own sacrifice to families who lost family members in war was "insulting, foolish and ignorant."[18] The Jewish War Veterans of the United States said that Trump was worthy of "contempt" and said that his remarks on Ghazala Khan were "vile beyond words."[48] An open letter by 23 Gold Star families called upon Trump to apologize to the Khans.[49][50][51]

On August 4, a group of protesters at a Trump rally in Portland, Maine, were ejected after standing among the seated attendees and silently holding up pocket Constitutions.[52]

On August 5, Khizr told Anderson Cooper that he and his wife were withdrawing from further TV appearances because it was emotionally draining, but said they would not be silent.[1] On September 3, Khizr and Ghazala were special guests at the Islamic Society of North America convention in Rosemont, Illinois, where they both spoke. They did not address the election, other than Ghazala joking, "I have to speak today."[53]

On October 21, the Hillary Clinton campaign released a 60-second television ad featuring Khizr Khan at home, showing the viewer pictures and mementos while telling the story of Humayun's sacrifice, and his voice wells up as he concludes, "I want to ask Mr. Trump: Would my son have a place in your America?"[54] The Washington Post reporter Chris Cillizza described the ad as "remarkably powerful," and added, "if there is an ad that breaks through the clutter while also reminding people of the stakes in the election, this might be the one."[55]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Kleinfield, N.R; Oppel, Richard A. Jr.; Eddy, Melissa (August 5, 2016). "Moment in Convention Glare Shakes Up Khans' American Life". New York Times. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  2. ↑ "U.S. Public Records Index, 1950–1993, Volume 1 – Khizr Khan". Ancestry.com. Retrieved August 5, 2016. (subscription required (help)).
  3. ↑ "U.S. Public Records Index, 1950–1993, Volume 1 – Ghazala Khan". Ancestry.com. Retrieved August 5, 2016. (subscription required (help)).
  4. ↑ Khan, Khizr Muazzam (1983). "Juristic Classification of Islamic Law". Houston Journal of International Law (6): 23. Khizr Muazzam Khan**
    ** LL.B., 1974 Punjab University Law College, LL.M, 1982 University of Missouri Law School; Specializing in International Trade Law in Saudi Arabia, the U.S., and Pakistan.
  5. 1 2 3 Oppel, Richard A., Jr. (July 29, 2016). "In Tribute to Son, Khizr Khan Offered Citizenship Lesson at Convention". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  6. 1 2 Aleaziz, Hamed (July 27, 2016). "How Khizr Khan prepared for anti-Trump DNC speech". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 1, 2016. (subscription required (help)).
  7. ↑ Polantz, Katelyn (July 29, 2016). "DNC Speaker Khizr Khan a Man of Character, Say Former Big-Law Colleagues". Khan spent seven years, from 2000 to 2007, in the Washington, D.C., office of then-Hogan & Hartson. He served as the firm’s manager of litigation technology.
  8. 1 2 McCrummen, Stephanie (March 22, 2005). "Looking for Logic Amid the Pain: Grieving Father Struggles to Understand". Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 11, 2016. (reposted July 28, 2016 as "Khizr Khan's loss: A grieving father of a soldier struggles to understand" (archived July 31, 2016))
  9. ↑ Kelly, Matt (September 24, 2004). "U.Va.'s ROTC Divisions Pay Tribute to Fallen Comrade". UVA Top News Daily.
  10. ↑ "A deeply personal look at the Khan family's loss". CNN. August 2, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Section 60 Arlington National Cemetery: Home". HBO. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  12. ↑ Qiu, Linda (July 29, 2016). "The backstory of the Muslim soldier's dad who said Trump 'sacrificed nothing'". PolitiFact.com. Archived from the original on July 29, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  13. ↑ Swaine, Jon; Gambino, Lauren (August 1, 2016). "Trump has 'black soul', says Khizr Khan, father of fallen Muslim US soldier". The Guardian. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  14. 1 2 3 Bradner, Eric (July 31, 2016). "Khizr Khan: Trump has a 'black soul'". CNN. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  15. ↑ Abramson, Alana; Phelps, Jordyn (August 1, 2016). "John McCain Condemns Trump's Attacks on Khizr Khan, Joining Other Republicans". ABC News. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "Fury as Trump mocks Muslim soldier's mother Ghazala Khan". BBC News. July 31, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  17. ↑ Friedersdorf, Conor (August 1, 2016). "Why Khizr Khan Is Paul Ryan's Worst Nightmare". The Atlantic. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  18. 1 2 3 4 DelReal, Jose; Gearan, Anne (July 30, 2016). "Trump stirs outrage after he lashes out at the Muslim parents of a dead U.S. soldier". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  19. 1 2 3 Sunstein, Cass (August 3, 2016). "Commentary: That pocket Constitution packs a few surprises". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  20. 1 2 3 Turnham, Steve (July 30, 2016). "Donald Trump to Father of Fallen Soldier: 'I've Made a Lot of Sacrifices'". ABC News. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  21. ↑ Willingham, A. J. (August 2, 2016). "The son who put the Khans in the spotlight". CNN. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  22. 1 2 Soffen, Kim (August 1, 2016). "Thanks to Khizr Khan, pocket Constitutions are selling like crazy". Washington Post.
  23. 1 2 Carter, Madison (July 30, 2016). "Khizr Khan: Showing Copy of Constitution at DNC was not Planned". WVIR-TV29 (NBC affiliate, Charlottesville VA). Archived from the original on August 1, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016. Khan says he and his wife wrote the speech together
  24. ↑ Polantz, Katelyn (July 29, 2016). "DNC Speaker Khizr Khan a Man of Character, Say Former Big-Law Colleagues". ALM Media Properties, LLC. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  25. ↑ Weitzman, Pinky; Kenny, Lorraine (August 3, 2016). "The Constitution: Still a Bestseller After All These Years" (Press release). ACLU. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  26. ↑ Grenoble, Ryan (August 2, 2016). "Sales Of U.S. Constitution Soar After Blistering Anti-Trump DNC Speech". The Huffington Post. Retrieved August 6, 2016. Updated August 5, 2016
  27. ↑ Christensen, Doreen (August 17, 2016). "It's Back! Free pocket copy of Constitution of the United States of America". Sun-Sentinel (South Florida). Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  28. ↑ Sullivan, Andrew (July 28, 2016). "Andrew Sullivan Liveblogs the DNC, Night 4". New York Magazine.
  29. ↑ McCrummen, Stephanie (July 31, 2016). "Khizr Khan responds to the latest from Trump: 'Typical of a person without a soul'". Washington Post.
  30. ↑ Timsit, Annabelle (July 29, 2016). "Seven Minutes That Shook the Convention". Politico Magazine. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  31. ↑ Crawford, Hillary E. (July 28, 2016). "The Transcript Of Khizr Khan's DNC Speech Is One Donald Trump Needs To Read". Bustle.
  32. ↑ Steele, Chandra (August 1, 2016). "How to Register to Vote Online". PC Magazine.
  33. ↑ Killough, Ashley (August 1, 2016). "Trump to Khizr Khan: 'I've made a lot of sacrifices'". CNN. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  34. ↑ Yuhas, Alan (July 31, 2016). "Trump attacks Muslim father's Democratic convention speech". The Guardian. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  35. ↑ Merod, Anna (July 30, 2016). "Donald Trump Questions Army Father's DNC Speech, Wife's Silence". NBC News.
  36. ↑ Mandell, Hinda (August 1, 2016). "Ghazala Khan And The Power Of Silence". WBUR.
  37. ↑ Cauterucci, Christina (August 1, 2016). "Trump's Smear of the Khan Family Shows How Islamophobes Use Feminism to Stoke Fear". Slate.
  38. ↑ Moody, Chris (August 3, 2016). "Khizr Khan: John McCain was my son's 'hero'". CNN. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  39. ↑ Peterson, Kristina; Hook, Janet (August 1, 2016). "John McCain Denounces Donald Trump's Comments on Khizr Khan, Ghazala Khan". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  40. ↑ "John McCain condemns Donald Trump over row with Khan family". BBC News. August 1, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  41. ↑ Everett, Burgess (August 29, 2016). "Why McCain refuses to go maverick on Trump". Politico. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  42. ↑ Collins, Susan (August 8, 2016). "GOP senator Susan Collins: Why I cannot support Trump". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  43. ↑ Burns, Alexander (August 8, 2016). "Susan Collins of Maine Says She Will Not Vote for Donald Trump". The New York Times. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
  44. ↑ Khan, Ghazala (July 31, 2016). "Ghazala Khan: Trump criticized my silence. He knows nothing about true sacrifice.". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  45. ↑ Foran, Clare (August 24, 2016). "How American Muslim Women Are Taking on Trump". The Atlantic. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
  46. ↑ Ornitz, Jill (August 1, 2016). "Veterans group chastises Trump for attacks on fallen soldier's parents". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  47. ↑ Engel, Pamela (August 1, 2016). "Veterans group slams Trump: 'There are certain sacrosanct subjects that no amount of wordsmithing can repair'". Business Insider. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  48. ↑ "Jewish veterans group slams Trump over attacks on Muslim war hero's family". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. August 2, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  49. ↑ "VoteVets releases Gold Star Family Members letter to Trump, demand apology for all Gold Star Families". VoteVets.Org. August 1, 2016. Archived from the original on August 18, 2016. Family members of twenty-three fallen service-members are writing to Donald J. Trump today
  50. ↑ Wright, David (August 1, 2016). "VFW slams Trump, Gold Star families demand apology". CNN. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  51. ↑ Jackson, Lucas; Goldberg, Barbara (August 3, 2016). "Muslim families of fallen U.S. soldiers driven to oppose Trump". Reuters. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  52. ↑ Diamond, Jeremy (August 4, 2016). "Protesters with pocket Constitutions removed from Trump rally". CNN. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
  53. ↑ Johnsen, Greta (September 3, 2016). "Muslim Convention, Attended By Khans, Brings Measured Criticism of Trump". WBEZ. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  54. ↑ Merica, Dan (October 21, 2016). "In emotional new ad, Khizr Khan asks if his fallen son would have a place in Trump's America". CNN. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  55. ↑ Cillizza, Chris (October 21, 2016). "This Khizr Khan ad for Hillary Clinton is incredibly powerful". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
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