Muslim civil rights group calls on party to repudiate 'ignorant' comments

WASHINGTON, May 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization today called on the Tea Party to repudiate "ignorant" comments made by one of its leaders, who wrote that Muslims worship a "monkey-god."

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CAIR said Mark Williams, chairman of the Tea Party Express, also wrote on his blog that Muslims are "animals of allah." [sic]

SEE: Tea Party Leader: Allah Is 'Monkey God'

http://tinyurl.com/2b5f7ez

"It would be shocking if such ignorant comments failed to elicit a strong response not only from Tea Party leaders, but from other parties throughout the political spectrum," said CAIR National Legislative Director Corey Saylor.

Last week, CAIR's Connecticut chapter called on state Republican leaders to repudiate intolerant statements made by Bridgeport Republican Town Committee Chairman Rick Torres.

During a recent debate among candidates seeking the GOP nomination for Connecticut's Fourth Congressional District, Torres is reported to have said: "It turns out, folks, they [Muslims] are here, they're among us. We are at war with Islam. I don't tolerate people who are not tolerant." It was also reported that Torres said that he "wants America's mosques and Imams to openly condemn terrorists' actions."

SEE: Candidates Focus on Immigration

http://www.thedailywestport.com/news/candidates-focus-immigration-0

CAIR also recently called on national Republican leaders to repudiate similarly Islamophobic campaign advertisements for a Florida GOP congressional candidate.

SEE: CAIR Asks GOP to Repudiate Racist, Anti-Muslim Ads

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20100507/pl_usnw/DC01257_1

CAIR attributed last week's bomb attack on a Florida mosque to a "growing atmosphere of anti-Muslim sentiment" nationwide that results from Islamophobic statements like those made by politicians.

SEE: CAIR Questions National Silence on Fla. Mosque Bombing

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20100514/pl_usnw/DC05153_1

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR National Legislative Director Corey Saylor, 202-384-8857, E-Mail: csaylor@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations

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