CAIR Asks GOP to Repudiate Islamophobic Newsletter Distributed in Idaho

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on Republican Party leaders to repudiate an Islamophobic newsletter distributed by a GOP county committee in Idaho.

[NOTE: Also today, CAIR joined with the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) and Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus (ALC) to launch a website, StuckInYemen.com, for American citizens and permanent residents trapped in Yemen. SEE: http://www.stuckinyemen.com/ ]

CAIR said the newsletter, which was distributed Monday, included a article called "Islam in Idaho" warning that Muslims are "infiltrating" the state and have been taught to "be ready to rise up and kill" and to be "two-faced" to deceive people of other faiths.

[NOTE: The newsletter was distributed by the Bonneville County Republican Central Committee, while the Islamophobic article was written by Bonneville Republican Central Committee Becky Prestwich.]

It read in part: "So when someone brings to our attention that Muslims are infiltrating even in places like Idaho, we must pay attention." Readers were asked to "demand that our lawmakers and law enforcers pay attention and ascertain whether or not there is a potential threat."

The newsletter also falsely alleged that "There are at least 109 (chapters of the Quran) that advocate violence and death towards infidels" and claimed that a Pocatello, Idaho, mosque was built "over the objections of many of the citizens of that town." In fact, only a tiny minority of city residents opposed the mosque.

The author of the newsletter article now says she was talking about "radical Muslims," but says she is "hard pressed to find very many peaceful Muslims who will condemn the acts of these radicals."

SEE: Muslims Taken Aback by Article in Eastern Idaho GOP Newsletter

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/04/02/3730223_muslims-taken-aback-by-e-idaho.html  

Idaho Republican's Bigoted Anti-Muslim Mass Email Has State Party Furiously Backtracking

http://tinyurl.com/pelskfr  

"This is just the latest example of Islamophobic falsehoods being promoted by Republican Party officials," said CAIR Government Affairs Manager Robert McCaw. "If the party truly wishes to reach out voters of all faiths and backgrounds, it must repudiate this type of extremist hate rhetoric."

He said American Muslims have repeatedly expressed concern about Islamophobic positions and actions by GOP leaders at the state and national levels.

SEE: US Muslim Group Concerned by GOP Presidential Hopefuls' Participation in Anti-Muslim Summit

http://tinyurl.com/qgwmh9s   

CAIR Calls on Maine, New Jersey GOP Chairs to Repudiate Prejudiced Comments by Officials

http://tinyurl.com/pgxvnbc

CAIR Asks Tennessee GOP to Repudiate Lawmaker's Racist Facebook Post

http://tinyurl.com/nhzkxpf

CAIR Questions Presidential Hopeful Jindal's Repetition of Discredited Muslim 'No-Go Zone' Claim

http://tinyurl.com/mu4dlws

CAIR-MN Asks GOP to Repudiate County Chair's Anti-Muslim Remarks

http://tinyurl.com/keo8ceq

In January, CAIR issued an open letter to potential Republican presidential candidates urging them to reject Islamophobia and to reach out to American Muslim voters.

CAIR's appeal cam in the wake of a controversy over remarks by presidential hopeful Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana who was criticized for promoting the false claim that there are Muslim "no-go zones" in European cities.

SEE: CAIR Letter Urges GOP Presidential Candidates to Engage Muslim Voters, Reject Islamophobia

http://tinyurl.com/ofa7f5a 

Read the Entire CAIR Letter:

http://www.cair.com/images/pdf/Open-Letter-to-2016-Republican-Presidential-Candidates.pdf  

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 Government Affairs Manager Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)