In Defense of the Constitution
Anti-CAIR Press Release 011/03
May 21, 2003
- CAIR and Democracy?
Mr. Nihad Awad Distorts…Again
- Civil Liberties for All? Congresswoman
Kaptur: Religious Bigot?
On 15 May, 2003, CAIR (Council on American
Islamic Relations, www.cair-net.org)
issued an American Muslim News Brief with an article entitled “Leaders
Emphasize Compatibility Between Islam and Democracy” The article
was written by Ms. Kathryn Schmidt, Washington File Special Correspondent. http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/islam/a051403.htm
The article cites Nihad Awad, co-founder and
executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR),
as saying, “The chief challenge is ignorance, not malice or hostility”.
ACAIR notes that this is the same organization
whose chairman, Mr. Omar M. Ahmad, stated to a rally of California Muslims
in 1998: “Islam isn’t in America to be equal to any other faith, but to become
dominant. The Koran should be the highest authority in America, and
Islam the only accepted religion on earth”.
Are these the words of a self-described follower
of the peaceful religion of Islam, or the words of a hateful religious bigot?
We find it hypocritical for members of CAIR to spit hate out of one side
of the mouth, and preach in favor of democracy out the other. CAIR
has not learned that in a democracy, all rights are protected, even those
of a person who preaches the core values of CAIR: Malice and hostility
toward all those who do not share their “religious” viewpoints.
Make no mistake: CAIR’s leadership, were it Jewish, Christian, Buddhist,
Hindu or otherwise, would have long ago been labeled a “hate group” by the
mainstream media had the truth been known about their activities.
It is only through vicious counter attacks and false cries of “Islamophobia”
that CAIR has cowed the mainstream press into silence about its assault
on our Constitution. Let there be no doubt that if CAIR were ever to
reach the pinnacle of power in this country that we would be no better off
than the poor unfortunates who suffered under the Taliban.
For Mr. Nihad Awad to speak about the compatibility
of Islam and democracy is no different than having Mr. Saddam Hussein speak
about human rights. The difference? Mr. Nihad Awad, can keep
a straight face when he lies.
The American Muslim community can do much better
than having the religious bigot Mr. Omar M. Ahmad, Mr. Nihad Awad, or any
CAIR member speak for them. There are many Muslims in America who do
not share CAIR’s values who would be better served by seeking out the true
leaders in the Islamic community that do not use the hateful words of CAIR.
Civil Liberties for All? Congresswoman Kaptur: Religious Bigot?
On 15 May, 2003, CAIR (Council on American
Islamic Relations, www.cair-net.org)
issued a Press Release with an item entitled “Kaptur Bill Safeguards Civil
Liberties for All” The article was written by Newsha Moraveji,
Press Secretary for Rep. Marcy Kaptur.
In the press release, Congresswoman Kaptur
is calling for new legislation condemning violence and bigotry against
Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, South Asian Americans and Sikh Americans.
Kaptur’s bill also calls on law enforcement to do more in preventing/prosecuting
“hate crimes”. http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/oh09_kaptur/bigotry.html
CAIR, as usual, has printed this press release
in order to present Muslims as an oppressed minority requiring special
protections at the expense of Americans who do not fit into the selected
protected class. In the press release, Ms. Moraveji stated: “The
FBI reports that the number of anti-Muslim incidents rose 1600% from 2000
to 2001, largely due to post 9/11 backlash”. A review of the schedule
one data from the Uniform Crime Report data collected by the FBI reveals
the following:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the year 2000:
Incidents
Offenses
Victims
Anti-Muslim
28
33
36
Anti-Jewish
1,109
1,161
1,269
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the year 2001:
Anti-Muslim
481
546
554
Anti-Jewish
1,043
1,117
1,196
As shown by the data, while crimes against
Muslims have indeed significantly increased, they do not begin to approach
the historical highs of crimes against Jews. In addition, the crimes
against Jews have held the same pattern for several years and yet we hear
nothing from Congresswoman Kaptur calling for legislation addressing their
plight. Could it be that the Congresswoman’s Press Secretary did not see fit to bring it to her attention, or is Congresswoman
Kaptur simply uncaring regarding bias crimes against Jews? In either
case, the People of Ohio’s 9th district are not being served well by a Congresswoman
who favors one religious group over another.
ACAIR firmly believes that all
Americans are entitled to the equal protections of the Constitution, regardless
of their religious (and other) beliefs. ACAIR calls on Congresswoman
Kaptur to repudiate her religiously bigoted statements and issue a new press
release calling for the end of bias crimes against all Americans, not just
members of special protected classes.
As a service to our readers, ACAIR stands
ready to answer any inquiries from the media or public. ACAIR
will answer questions from the public by e-mail which may be addressed as
shown below. Members of the media may request either an e-mail response
to queries or may choose to speak to an ACAIR spokesperson.
Send an e-mail to the address below, stating the organization you represent
and a phone number, (US and Canada only, need not be toll-free) and time
when you may be contacted. Please allow a minimum of 24 hours for an
e-mail response.
For more information:
Andrew Whitehead
ajwhitehead@anti-cair-net.org
ACAIR