CAIR Thanks Fla. Sheriff for Response to Anti-Islam E-Mail
Sheriff to receive Quran, 'Law Enforcement Official's Guide to the Muslim Community'
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization today thanked a Florida sheriff for his "prompt and professional" response to the circulation of an anti-Islam message by members of his department using official e-mail addresses.
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The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said it received a complaint that two staffers of the Seminole County Sheriff's Office forwarded an e-mail urging "patriotic Americans" to protest a U.S. Postal Service "Eid" stamp marking the two major Islamic holidays of Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan and Eid al-Adha at the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca. (The Eid stamp was first issued in 2001 and was re-issued several times as prices increased. The 44-cent version was issued last September.)
The e-mail, with the subject line "DO NOT BUY THIS STAMP," falsely claims the stamp is new and that its creation was ordered by President Obama. It also states: "REMEMBER to adamantly & vocally BOYCOTT this stamp, when you are purchasing your stamps at the post office...To use this stamp would be a slap in the face to all those AMERICANS who died at the hands of those whom this stamp honors."
Sheriff Donald F. Eslinger today told CAIR that the anti-Islam message is not representative of his department and that the staffers in question have been reminded of the policy prohibiting such actions.
"We thank Sheriff Eslinger for his prompt and professional response to this incident and for his rejection of intolerance," said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. "Our research and experience show that the best way to challenge anti-Islam stereotyping and falsehoods is through education and outreach."
He added that a copy of the Quran, Islam's revealed text, will be sent to Sheriff Eslinger for use as a reference by department personnel.
Hooper said the gift to the sheriff's office is part of CAIR's "Explore the Quran" campaign designed to distribute free copies of the Quran to 100,000 local, state and national leaders. To date, tens of thousands of copies of the Quran have been sponsored and are being delivered to leaders nationwide.
SEE: Explore the Quran
http://www.explorethequran.com/
Last year, CAIR sent a copy of the Quran to a Tennessee mayor who circulated the same e-mail. Copies of the Quran were also sent to the city council.
CAIR will also send Sheriff Eslinger copies of its "Law Enforcement Official's Guide to the Muslim Community," which outlines basic information about Islamic beliefs that are relevant to law enforcement agencies. The booklet cover issues such as the rights of Muslim law enforcement officers, religiously-sensitive techniques for body searches, proper etiquette for entering Muslim homes, and advice on outreach to the Islamic community.
SEE: Law Enforcement Official's Guide to The Muslim Community
http://www.cair.com/Portals/0/pdf/law_enforcement_guide.pdf
A recent survey showed that more than 4 in 10 Americans admit to anti-Muslim prejudice.
SEE: Poll on Anti-Islam Bias Shows Need for U.S. Muslim Outreach
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 Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: [email protected]; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: [email protected]
SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations
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