Alderman Wery quizzes Muslim woman on terrorism

A Green Bay alderman has apologized to a Muslim resident for responding to her inquiry about public bus service with questions about her political beliefs and whether she condemns Islamic terrorism.

Alderman Chris Wery directed his questions to Heba Mohammad after the recent University of Wisconsin-Green Bay graduate asked the alderman in an email why city bus service is not free on Election Day.

Wery agreed to check into the bus service question, but then he asked Mohammad about her involvement in starting a Muslim Student Association group at UW-Green Bay.

"I just want to be assured that your group in no way promotes or defends militant Islamic ideology," Wery wrote, asking if Mohammad and the association condemn "terrorist groups such as Hamas."

Mohammad refused to answer Wery's questions and then posted the exchange on Facebook, prompting many users of the social media site to accuse the alderman of bigotry and profiling.

Mohammad, 22, who graduated from UW-Green Bay earlier this year, said she was surprised to hear an elected official engage in what she considered profiling based on her religious background. She believes he developed an "instant suspicion" because of her name.

"That's kind of hurtful, to be honest," she told Press-Gazette Media.

Wery, a veteran City Council member who once ran for mayor, said he recognized that his remarks were inappropriate and poorly timed. He said he should not have raised his questions while helping a resident get information about public bus service.

"I phrased it wrong. It was the wrong setting," he told Press-Gazette Media. "And I apologized for that."

Mohammad said she accepted the alderman's apology and was glad he understood why his actions were inappropriate.

David Coury, a UW-Green Bay faculty adviser to the Muslim Student Association, also responded to Wery, writing in an email that he would gladly meet with Wery to "allay any fears or concerns you might have."

Coury, a professor of Humanistic Studies, assured Wery that the Muslim student group is not political and that the group condemns all forms of terrorism against innocent people. To which Wery responded, "That is really all I wanted to know and probably was much too blunt in my questions to Heba."

The exchange began Monday when Mohammad emailed Wery that free bus service on Election Day would help boost turnout by assuring that people without transportation are able to reach a polling place. She wrote that she was reaching out "as a concerned citizen of our wonderful city."

Green Bay Metro's city-run transit system has provided free bus rides on Saturdays and certain special events, but not on Election Day.

When Wery responded by questioning whether Mohammad supports Islamic terrorism, she wrote back, "I am offended that our conversation has taken this direction."

In an interview, Wery said he attended UWGB and he recognized Mohammad's name as founder of the Muslim Student Association from a campus publication that he receives. He said Muslim college groups elsewhere in the United States have espoused anti-American sentiments, and he added that he took the opportunity to ask Mohammad about the UW-Green Bay group.

Saying he was questioning the group as a concerned citizen rather than an aldermen, he said, "It's something that had been rattling around in the back of my head."

— swilliams@pressgazettemedia.com and follow him on Twitter @pgscottwilliams