The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil right and advocacy organization, today encouraged Dearborn residents of all faiths to ignore a planned anti-Muslim march, calling it an “Islamophobic publicity stunt.”
An anti-Muslim activist claims he planned the march next Tuesday “to protect Americans from Sharia law.”
SEE: Leaders urge Dearborn residents to ignore planned march through city – Michigan Advance
This publicity stunt comes as anti-Muslim public officials nationwide seek to manufacture a fake “sharia law” hysteria as a means to distract the American public from growing outrage over unconditional U.S. support for the Israeli government’s genocide in Gaza.
Last month, CAIR’s national office distributed a formal congressional briefing memo, “Weaponized Islamophobia: The Return of the Anti-Sharia Hoax,” to every member of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, along with a companion educational document titled “Sharia in American Life.”
CLICK HERE: READ CAIR’s CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING MEMO
CLICK HERE: READ CAIR’s EDUCATIONAL FACTSHEET ON “SHARIA IN AMERICAN LIFE”
In a statement, CAIR-MI Executive DirectorDawud Walid said:
“This so-called march is nothing more than a cynical attempt to stir up anti-Muslim sentiment and score cheap political points with like-minded extremists. Michigan residents – Muslims and people of other faiths or no faith – understand that our state’s strength comes from its diversity and unity. We urge the community not to give this anti-Muslim publicity stunt the attention its organizers are so desperately seeking. Ignoring it is the most effective way to deny them the spotlight they crave.”
“We urge elected officials, faith leaders and community members to continue standing together against bigotry and to reject any attempts to divide Michigan communities.”
He added that just yesterday, CAIR-MI welcomed the arrest of an Illinois man who allegedly made threats targeting a Dearborn Heights mosque.
SEE: Illinois man arrested for making threats toward Dearborn Heights mosque – CBS
Walid said CAIR-MI recently called for stepped-up police protection for mosques and Islamic institutions in that state after law enforcement authorities identified a person of interest from Texas who allegedly made threatening calls to the Islamic Institute of America in Dearborn Heights.
That statement came just one day after CAIR-MI welcomed terrorism charges filed against a Virginia-based white supremacist who allegedly threatened to “kill Muslims” at a Michigan mosque.
He urged community leaders to increase security protocols for all mosques and Islamic institutions.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR offers a “Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety” booklet to help keep religious facilities safe. The advice in the booklet is applicable to all houses of worship.
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CONTACT: CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid, 248-842-1418, dwalid@cair.com; CAIR Lead Staff Attorney Amy Doukoure, 586-943-8823, adoukoure@cair.com; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com