A brave Muslim interfaith activist who\u2019s devoted her life to promoting religious freedom and denouncing violent extremism is vowing to lead the first Muslim group ever to march in the Israel on Fifth Parade in spite of threats to \u201cwear a bulletproof vest.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anila Ali<\/a>, a Pakistan native turned fearless DC-based civil rights advocate, defiantly told The Post \u201cnothing is deterring me\u201d from marching in the annual event that celebrates the Jewish state \u2013 even after a Democratic socialist city councilwoman condemned Ali to hell<\/a> for showing her support for Jews this week at a rally in front of Gracie Mansion.<\/p>\n The 58-year-old powerhouse founder of the American Muslim & Multifaith Women\u2019s Empowerment Council<\/a> said she plans to march with a few dozen Muslim supporters, including an imam and children, despite a barrage of intimidation tactics from \u201cnefarious forces\u201d for daring to show solidarity with Israel.\u00a0<\/p>\n Muslim interfaith leader Anila Ali came under attack this week by a Democratic socialist city councilwoman for protesting Mayor Zohran Mamdani with Jewish civil rights group, End Jew Hatred. Instagram \/ @jewishlinknews<\/p>\n \u201cWe are a little worried after somebody\u2019s been calling and saying to wear a bulletproof vest,\u201d Ali told The Post. \u201cBut we\u2019re fighting to take back our country and it\u2019s a fight that every American should join.\u201d<\/p>\n Showing up now in the wake of unprecedented antisemitism in the Big Apple sends a strong message, said Ali, who added she\u2019s been targeted by the Islamic regime for her interfaith work, which has included taking groups of Muslims, including the first Pakistani delegation, to Israel.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI want to show I\u2019m a proud Muslim \u2013 I try not to think about the threat, but about what we\u2019re doing \u2013 standing with Israel\u2019s right to exist,\u201d Ali said in the wake of accusations of being an \u201cIslamonazi\u201d and a \u201cgrifter\u201d cashing in on Jewish money<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ali, who\u2019s lived in the US for 30 years and found support in the Jewish community after 9\/11, blasted Mayor Zohran Mamdani for being a no-show at the Sunday parade, the first ever mayor to skip the festivities since its 1961 inception.\u00a0<\/p>\n She called out the \u201cdangerous\u201d Democratic socialist for \u201cempowering radicals\u201d who target the Jewish community.<\/p>\n Sunday\u2019s Israel Day Parade is marked by heightened fear in the Jewish community, which faces a spike in antisemitism across the city. Stephen Yang<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s using the politics of intimidation,\u201d said Ali, who claimed that demoralized Muslims she met at a Jackson Heights Eid event and across the city this week want to voice dissent for Mamdani, but fear backlash. \u201cThey want this mayor out, but they fear that the moment they say something, they will be intimidated and harassed.\u201d<\/p>\n