Khizr and Ghazala Khan: From parents of Muslim-American war hero to voice of millions

Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the parents of US Army Captain Humayun Khan who was killed in Iraq in 2004, recently talked with Geo News where they discussed Trump’s controversial comments and their desire to become a voice and beacon of hope for millions of Muslims in the US and across the world.

Khizr and Ghazala originally hail from Lahore, Pakistan, where Khizr studied law at the Punjab University. He then went to the US along with his young family to continue further studies at Harvard Law School, before permanently settling down in the country.

Speaking to Geo News, Khizr explained his motivation to deliver the powerful speech at the Democratic National Convention on July 28 that broke the Internet and sent Republican nominee Donald Trump in a downward spiral of controversies and criticism.

"We wanted to pay tribute to our son, but most importantly we wanted to defend Muslim immigrants in the US against threats from Trump. We are patriotic American-Muslims,” Khizr said.

"Trump implied that Islam perhaps did not give permission to my wife to speak, but my wife has since spoken out on five networks, she wrote an article for the Washington Post countering Trump's comments.”

Khizr drew attention to the status of a Gold Star mother in the US, noting that even the US President stands behind Gold Star mothers in respect. "Trump is ignorant, and yes it needed to be said,” he said, reacting to Trump's remarks about Ghazala Khan.

Khizr then remarked on how politicians and the public at large have denounced Trump’s comments for the mother of the fallen US soldier.

"Even people from within his party think he is not fit to be the President,” Khizr said, adding that he and Ghazala have received letters from several other Gold Star mothers from all over the country rebuking Trump. 

23 Gold Star families have written an open letter to Trump demanding an apology for his remarks about Ghazala Khan.

"Trump wanted to expel Muslims from the US and look at him now, even his own people [Republicans] are not ready to have him as the nominee."

Khizr also drew attention to Speaker of the House of Representatives Paul Ryan’s letter in which he said Trump’s statement negated American values.

When asked by Geo News what message he wanted to send out to the Muslim-American community, Khizr stressed the importance of participating in the US political process. "I urge the community to register their votes and vote on the Election Day. If we don’t participate our voices won’t get heard."