In Defense of the Constitution  
 
Anti-CAIR Press Release 004/03  
 
April 19, 2003  
 
Anti-CAIR Questions Censorship by US Post Office  
 
    As commented on by Mr. John Whitehead, the US Post Office (Postal Bulletin 22097) refuses to mail articles "contrary to the Islamic faith" to US military personnel stationed in the Middle East.  (http://www.rutherford.org/articles_db/commentary.asp?record_id=217),  
 
    This policy is spelled out by the Post Office: (http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/bulletin/2003/html/pb22097/apofpo.html#0.2.LMRPOZ.NQFEZ8.BZO8BH.H)   
 
    The Post Office regulations do not specify what is considered to be "contrary to the Islamic faith" and a search of the US Post Office web site (http://www.usps.com) provided no clarification.
  
     A Post Office press release (http://www.usps.com/communications/news/press/2003/pr03_018.htm) spells out the terms in laymen's language to assist the public.  It should be noted that the press release contradicted the official bulletin in that it states: "Items for the personal use of the addressee are permissible" in relation to religious items.  However, there in no definition of what is considered "for personal use" or who will make the determination, the customer or the postal clerk.   
 
    We believe the limitations being placed on the mailing of religious articles to military members serving overseas to be un-Constitutional and contrary to the principle of religious freedom enjoyed by American citizens.  In particular, we question if the policy can be applied to US Warships which are considered US soil no matter where they serve.   
 
    We condemn any policy which unfairly prejudices any religious beliefs to the favor of another.  Either restrict all religious items to the same degree or, better yet, restrict none.

    ACAIR requested comments from the Council on American Islamic Relations, (CAIR), a Washington based civil rights group that purportedly supports civil rights.  CAIR is a fundamentalist Islamic group with ties to international terrorist organizations.  CAIR usually does not comment on policies that benefit the Islamic faith and exclude others in keeping with their stated goal to convert the United States into an Islamic theocracy.    
 
 For more information:  
 
 Andrew Whitehead                                                                                                                                                  
ajwhitehead@anti-cair-net.org                                                                                                                                                      
Anti-CAIR (ACAIR)