National Muslim Coalition Reaffirms Commitment to Kashmiri Self-Determination, Supports Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai's Right to Competent Legal Defense

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT***), a national coalition of major Muslim organizations, today issued a statement to express its commitment to the people of Kashmir and their peaceful struggle for self-determination and to reaffirm Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai's constitutional rights and the presumption of innocence afforded to every person in the United States.

Having carried out a heroic struggle under most difficult circumstances, Dr. Fai has become the globally-recognized face of Kashmiri public diplomacy.  

AMT said in a statement:

"Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, a respected community activist and leader, has a right to the presumption of innocence and the right to a competent legal defense, the cost of which will require community support.

"Equally important for us is to ensure that the cause of Kashmir finds a peaceful expression in the United States. All the constitutional protections afforded any American citizen must remain available to Kashmiri-Americans and to all those who support the Kashmiri right to self-determination.

"Let no one be deluded into thinking that the present restrictions on the Kashmiri American Council (KAC) will mean banning of advocacy on behalf of the long-suffering people of Kashmir.

"We urge President Obama to ensure that the recent pro-India shift in U.S. policy, clearly manifested in Secretary of State Clinton's speech in India, will not be used by law enforcement agencies to stifle national debate about the future of Kashmir."

*** AMT is an umbrella organization that includes American Muslim Alliance (AMA), American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA), Muslim American Society-Freedom (MAS-F), Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA), Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA), National Association of Imams (NAIF) and United Muslims of America (UMA).

In addition, this statement has been signed by the Islamic Educational Center of Orange County and Islamic Shura Council of Southern California.

CONTACT: AMT Chair Dr. Agha Saeed: [email protected]

SOURCE American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections