CAIR Asks Trump Not to Appoint General Who Called Islam 'a Cancer' as National Security Adviser

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on President-elect Donald Trump not to appoint retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn as his national security adviser because of his history of anti-Muslim comments and associations. Media reports indicated Trump has already made that decision.

SEE: Flynn Said to Be Lead Contender for Trump's Security Adviser
http://www.the-journal.com/article/20161117/AP/311179813/Flynn-said-to-be-lead-contender-for-Trump's-security-adviser

Earlier this year at a Texas event hosted by the anti-Islam hate group ACT for America, Flynn compared Islam to "a cancer" and said that faith of 1.6 billion people worldwide "definitely hides behind being a religion."

SEE: Trump's Favorite General Doesn't View Islam as a Religion (Dallas Morning News)
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/2016-presidential-election/2016/08/10/dallas-trumps-favorite-general-voices-doubts-whether-gop-nominee-isa-republican

"A person who believes the faith of one fourth of the world's population is a 'cancer' should not be advising the president on anything, let alone on our nation's security," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. "We urge President-elect Trump not to appoint General Flynn to any administration post, and if he already has made that decision, to find another candidate who does not hold such bigoted views."

Awad noted that Flynn is on the board of advisers for ACT for America, a virulently anti-Muslim hate group headed by Hanah Kahwagi Tudor, who goes by the pseudonym "Brigitte Gabriel." [NOTE: ACT for America has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).]

SEE: Meet the Extremists Attending the ACT for America Conference
https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2016/09/01/meet-extremists-attending-act-america-conference  

"Gabriel" has stated that an American Muslim "cannot be a loyal citizen" and that Islam is the "real enemy." She once told the Australian Jewish News: "Every practicing Muslim is a radical Muslim." When asked whether Americans should "resist Muslims who want to seek political office in this nation," Tudor said, "Absolutely."

CAIR Islamophobia Monitor: Brigitte Gabriel (ACT for America)
http://www.islamophobia.org/islamophobic-individuals/brigitte-gabriel.html  

CAIR Islamophobia Monitor: ACT For America
http://www.islamophobia.org/islamophobic-orgs/act-for-america.html  

The SPLC has named "Brigitte Gabriel" as a member of the nation's "Anti-Muslim Inner Circle."

SPLC: Anti-Muslim Inner Circle
https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2011/anti-muslim-inner-circle

CAIR recently decried the appointment of anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist and White nationalist "alt-right" extremist Stephen Bannon as Trump's chief strategist and senior counselor and updated its site with information about the extremist anti-Muslim views of a number of potential Trump administration appointees.

CAIR Islamophobia Monitor: Islamophobia and the Potential Trump Team
http://www.islamophobia.org/15-reports/181-islamophobia-and-the-trump-transition-team.html

The Washington-based Muslim civil rights group is monitoring a troubling spike in anti-Muslim and racist incidents since the November 8 election.

Muslim community members who believe their rights have been violated are being asked to contact local police and CAIR's Civil Rights Department at 202-742-6420 or by filing a report at: http://www.cair.com/civil-rights/report-an-incident/view/form.html

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.

La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.

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CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

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