Rabiah Ahmed of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, speaks alongside leaders of the Muslim community about the growing ‘Islamophobia’ in the United States during a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on Dec 21. (AFP)

American Muslim leaders are planning voter registration drives and open-house days at mosques to fight a rise in anti- Muslim harassment. US Muslim leaders also pledged to counter recruitment efforts by extremists such as the Islamic State group.

The plans were announced Monday in Washington, one day after an emergency summit on anti-Muslim bias that drew about 100 leaders from across the country. Among the participants were the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Islamic Society of North America and the Muslim Public Affairs Council. Organizers say they’ll work with civil rights and interfaith groups to try to defeat politicians with bigoted views.

The recent backlash against Muslims follows Islamic extremist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California, and remarks by Donald Trump and other presidential candidates.

Also: RICHMOND, California: Bomb squad crews safely detonated a possible explosive device at the house of a San Francisco Bay area man and arrested him in connection with threats against Muslim people, a newspaper reported. Officers in Richmond received a tip that a man had said he wanted to harm Muslim community members, the Contra Costa Times reported Sunday. Detectives said they learned the man might have made an explosive device at his home. (AP)