JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With a vote of 13-6, the City Council reappointed Dr. Parvez Ahmed to the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission, but not without some fireworks.
Not in City Hall at the time, but watching from afar by computer, was the man of the hour.
"It was unnecessary. It’s unfortunate that in this day and age we still have bigotry, not only racial bigotry, but also religious bigotry,” Ahmed said.
Ahmed came straight to Action News immediately after the vote to speak only with us Tuesday night about some of the allegations that were thrown around. Many of the UNF professor’s critics claim he has ties to terrorist groups.
"Would you like to clear the air,” Action News reporter Alex Hill asked Ahmed. “Are you a terrorist?”
"Of course not, I mean if somebody's a terrorist, they'd be sitting in a jail,” he answered.
Instead, Ahmed is getting ready to sit for another term on the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission. It’s an unpaid position he’s been in since 2010.
"It is our way of giving back to the city we really love,” said Ahmed.
Despite all the criticism - his name being forced back into the limelight - Ahmed says he doesn’t regret it.
"The pain is obviously unnecessary and unneeded, but like every good thing there is no gain without some pain,” said Ahmed.
Ahmed will now serve on the commission until December 31, 2015.
