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UPDATE: $10,000 reward for video of thousands of Muslims celebrating in New Jersey after 9/11 still unclaimed

Update: A war of words between Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump over his statements about Muslims renewed interest again in a reward offered by a Colorado Springs businessman.

During Saturday’s Democratic debate, Clinton said ISIS is using video of Trump for recruiting and his statements against Muslims are fueling terrorism.

Trump demanded an apology from Clinton. However, Monday afternoon Clinton’s camp responded saying “hell no.”

A $10,000 reward offered by a Colorado Springs businessman remains unclaimed.Muslim businessmanKhurshid Qureshi is offering it in hopes that it can easy tensions between Muslims and their fellow Americans. Qureshi said Trump’s words are hurtful and have made a lot of Muslims very angry.

Trump responded to Clinton’s refusal to apologize during a rally on Monday night in Michigan by pointing to her failed race in 2008.

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Original Story:

A $10,000 reward for video showing thousands of Muslims celebrating in the streets of New Jersey after 9/11 had not been claimed Wednesday night, despite people’s efforts to find video and pictures.

People emailed in videos and posted videos in hopes of securing the reward offered by a Colorado Springs businessman. However, videos submitted showed people celebrating overseas and only a handful of people reported celebrating in the U.S. The man behind the reward, Muslim businessmanKhurshid Qureshi said no one has come forward with the evidence he has requested.

“I have not seen any sign, any video, any photograph that thousands of people were celebrating,” said Qureshi.

Last month, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said he saw thousands of Muslims celebrating in the streets after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Qureshi said he has spent hours searching the Internet for the video. Qureshi said he has read every article in New Jersey and New York in the days following 9/11.

“I could not find a single paragraph that the 10,000 or the 5,000 Muslims were celebrating,” said Qureshi.

After a fruitless search, Qureshi decided to turn to the public to help track down the video. He wrote a check for anyone who can show him video or pictures of celebrations.

“I could even write a bigger check if someone can show me a large picture of a million people celebrating,” said Qureshi.

This cash prize is not meant to divide people. Qureshi hopes instead it will help end cruel statements directed at Muslim-Americans.

“My main emphasis is to great a better relationship between the Muslims and non-Muslims in this country,” said Qureshi.

The executive director of the El Paso County Republican Daniel Cole said offering this reward is the right move.

“He’s created an incentive to help the truth come to light. He’s not responded with vitriol or attacks. He’s simply responded with a very civil offer for people to substantiate their claims,” said Cole.

Cole went on the say this political season, people are too focused on feelings instead of facts.

“I think we should be evaluating these claims on the basis of whether they are true or false, not on the basis of how they are making people feel,” said Cole.

After 9/11, Qureshi said Muslim-Americans were grieving for innocent lives lost.

“They were all feeling the pain of what was happening to our nation,” said Qureshi.

Right now, Qureshi said his fellow Muslims feel it is a difficult time to be Muslim-American in the U.S.

“They are being challenged that they are not loyal to this government and that really hurt and also made them angry,” said Qureshi.

Qureshi said no one is challenging Trump or his offensive statements, so this businessman hopes this money help clear the air.

“People are not challenging them because they are either afraid of the bully or that they are not going to get those votes,” said Qureshi. “I think it is my duty to prove that he is wrong. He should put up or shut up.”

After questions arouse about his claims, Trump doubled-down on his statements and said his supporters also saw the celebrations.

Qureshi came to the U.S. with a high school education. He went on to get his undergraduate and graduate degrees. He holds 12 patents, including for OnStar a popular technology for cars. He now owns a business specializing in green energy.

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