CAIR Calls on Iowa GOP to Drop Sponsorship of Anti-Muslim Conspiracy Theorist Who Allegedly Assaulted Minn. Sheriff

WASHINGTON, Sept. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Iowa chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Iowa) today called on the Republican Party in that state to drop its sponsorship of an upcoming event featuring anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist John Guandolo, who recently had a restraining order issued against him following allegations that he assaulted a Minnesota sheriff.

On Thursday evening, the Pottawattamie County Republican Party is co-sponsoring an event with Guandolo at the Oakland Community Center in Oakland, Iowa.

SEE: Understanding Islamic Terrorism Event Coming to Oakland
http://www.kmaland.com/news/understanding-islamic-terrorism-event-coming-to-oakland/article_a626fcd0-93fc-11e7-937a-73b698476c87.html

Minnesota's Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek has accused Guandolo of assaulting him during a national law enforcement conference earlier this year in Reno, Nev. In a statement, Stanek's office said: "The Hennepin County District Court has issued a Harassment Restraining Order against Guandolo." A criminal investigation is reportedly being conducted by the Washoe County Sheriff's Office in Nevada.

Exclusive - Anti-Muslim Conspiracy Theorist Guandolo Assaults Minn. Sheriff at NSA Conference, Per Court Documents
http://imagine2050.newcomm.org/2017/08/11/john-guandolo-assault-richard-stanek-national-sheriffs-association/ 
John Guandolo Ordered to Stay Away from Sheriff Stanek (Star Tribune)
http://www.startribune.com/restraining-order-filed-against-former-fbi-agent-accused-of-assaulting-sheriff-stanek/439932193/ 
Anti-Muslim Speaker Now Accused of Assaulting a Sheriff
http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/maricopa-county-attorney-john-guandolo-islamophobic-training-9592739

"The Republican Party's sponsorship of a notorious Islamophobe who is accused of assaulting a public official sends a negative message to Iowa Muslims and to our state's law enforcement community," said CAIR-Iowa Executive Director Miriam Amer.

She said CAIR recently welcomed a decision by the Mesa Police Department in Mesa, Ariz., that a May "training" by Guandolo will be the "last time" for such an event.

CAIR Good News Alert: Arizona Police Department Says 'Last Time' for Training by Anti-Muslim Conspiracy Theorist John Guandolo 
https://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/14326-cair-good-news-alert-arizona-police-department-says-last-time-for-training-by-anti-muslim-conspiracy-theorist-john-guandolo.html 

Among his many bizarre and Islamophobic claims, Guandolo has falsely claimed that:

• U.S. mosques are planning armed attacks on law enforcement authorities and churches,
• the Black Lives Matter movement is funded by "enemies of the United States,"
• when a Delaware Imam (Islamic religious leader) touched his nose during the pledge of allegiance before a legislative session it was part of "civilizational jihad,"
• former CIA Director John Brennan was a secret Muslim,
• Muslims are "obligated" to lie,
• Muslim hotel managers, cabbies and 7-11 workers seek to take over America,
• it is "unprofessional" for officials to seek information about Islam from Islamic religious leaders (imams).

CAIR recently said Guandolo is putting local Muslim communities at risk by making the false claim that, "Mosques/Islamic Centers are organizing for armed confrontation with law enforcement, shoring up physical defenses where they see likely confrontation and increasing their pre-attack surveillances of churches and other targets."

John Guandolo: Indict Journalists - Muslim Hotel Managers, Cabbies, 7-11 Workers Seek U.S. Takeover 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-NMLtiwfZM 
Audio: Islamophobe John Guandolo Claims Mosques, MSA Chapters Seek 'Overthrow' of U.S. Government
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=645fIfXjdp8 
Video: John Guandolo Claims Muslims are 'Obligated' to Lie, Talking to Imams is 'Unprofessional'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juQj8FDINz0   
Audio/Video: Islamophobes John Guandolo, Chris Gaubatz Smear Mosques, Say BLM is Funded by 'Enemies' of U.S.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR4VgC0Yf_Y 
CAIR Islamophobia Monitor: John Guandolo
http://islamophobia.org/islamophobic-individuals/john-guandolo/75-john-guandolo.html 
Video: Islamophobe John Guandolo Claims CIA Director John Brennan is a Secret Muslim
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aieUdwZoYMg 
Guandolo: Delaware Imam Touching His Nose is Part of Civilizational Jihad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq2IL2oJsQE

Backgrounder on Islamophobe John Guandolo:

CAIR's profile of Guandolo documents his belief that America "is at war with Islam" and that major Muslim organizations and mosques are "preparing for combat." Guandolo also claims there is inaction on the part of the U.S. government to counter this threat because people inside the Trump White House "have been co-opted by the bad guys." 

Earlier this year, Guandolo excused a terror attack on a London mosque because "people who are still sane" are "having to make very difficult decisions."

CAIR Islamophobia Monitor: Understanding the Threat
http://www.islamophobia.org/islamophobic-orgs/21-understanding-the-threat/32-understanding-the-threat.html

Last year, a Texas college canceled a similar event. The college's decision came following a request by CAIR's Dallas-Fort Worth chapter.

SEE: Texas College Cancels Controversial Law Enforcement Training Event Led by 'Anti-Muslim Conspiracy Theorist'
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/texas-college-cancels-controversial-law-enforcement-training-event-led-by-anti-muslim-conspiracy-a7061731.html 
Ex-FBI Agent John Guandolo to Host Anti-Muslim Training at Texas College
http://imagine2050.newcomm.org/2016/05/31/fbi-agent-guandolo-islamophobia-training-texas-college/  
CAIR-Dallas Asks College to Cancel Law Enforcement 'Training' by Islamophobe John Guandolo
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/13562-cair-dallas-asks-college-to-cancel-law-enforcement-training-by-islamophobe-john-guandolo.html

In 2015, CAIR welcomed the withdrawal of an FBI representative from an event in Texas that was initially sponsored by the anti-Muslim hate group ACT! for America and featured Guandolo.

SEE: FBI Withdraws from Texas Event Initially Sponsored by Hate Group and Featuring Anti-Muslim Conspiracy Theorist
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/12832-fbi-withdraws-from-texas-event-sponsored-by-hate-group.html

Virginia's Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy rescinded its approval of in-service training credits for state law enforcement scheduled to attend a training Guandolo was conducting in Culpeper, Va., after being made aware of his anti-Islam rhetoric.

SEE: Virginia Agency Pulls Accreditation for Anti-Muslim Training
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/12387-virginia-agency-pulls-accreditation-for-anti-muslim-training.html       

A sheriff in Kansas decided not to partner with a citizens group sponsoring a Guandolo training after being informed of his conspiracy theories. When a journalist at Kansas' Wichita Eagle covered the controversy, Guandolo accused the reporter of material support of terrorism.

SEE: Kansas Sheriff Won't Partner on Training by John Guandolo
http://www.cair.com/press-center/cair-in-the-news/12503-kansas-sheriff-wont-partner-on-training-by-john-guandolo.html       

A number of Arizona police departments decided not to send officers to one of Guandolo's trainings.

CAIR: Arizona Police Departments Drop Out of Islamophobic Training
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/12655-arizona-police-departments-drop-out-of-islamophobic-training.html      

Guandolo left the FBI shortly after reports surfaced that he had allegedly engaged in a sexual relationship with a key witness in a corruption trial targeting a member of Congress. In addition he is documented as having falsified his credentials and work experience.

Major General Tony Cucolo, Commandant of the US Army War College, informed CAIR in an email: "Mr. Guandolo's claim (in print) that he teaches at the Army War College and any other references (e.g., online) identifying him as an adjunct instructor here are simply untrue."

The Washington-based Muslim civil rights group is asking Muslim community members to report any bias incidents to police and to CAIR's Civil Rights Department at 202-742-6420 or by filing a report at: https://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-Iowa Executive Director Miriam Amer, 319-573-6617, [email protected], CAIR Government Affairs Director 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)

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