The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on the Freedom 250 Mobile Museum to correct a false claim that sports icon and international justice advocate Muhammad Ali “disavowed” Islam.
SEE: Trump’s Freedom 250 Trucks Falsely Claim Muhammad Ali Disavowed Islam
(Photos used with permission.)
Those mobile museums reportedly contain a display that states: “After converting to Islam, he changed his name to Muhammad Ali though he later disavowed the religion.”
Freedom 250 is a national organization announced by President Trump to lead America’s 250th anniversary celebration.
In a statement, CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:
“Muhammad Ali was a devout Muslim. Suggesting otherwise distorts both his personal faith journey and the historical record. Like many other African-Americans who originally belonged to the Nation of Islam, Muhammad Ali transitioned to Sunni Islam under the leadership of Imam W.D. Muhammad in the 1970s and lived the rest of his life contributing to causes of justice and peace, motivated by his faith. Any exhibit honoring his life should accurately reflect his unwavering commitment to Islam. We call on the Freedom 250 Mobile Museum to correct the record.”
Washington, D.C., based CAIR also urged the Freedom 250 Mobile Museum to consult Rep. André Carson’s Muhammad Ali Congressional Gold Medal Act, which recognizes Ali’s lifelong commitment to justice, humanitarian service, and his proud identity as an American Muslim.
The Congressional Gold Medal is one of the nation’s highest civilian honors, and Rep. Carson’s legislation makes clear that Ali’s legacy cannot be separated from the Islamic faith and moral convictions that guided his stand for civil rights at home and human rights abroad.
When Muhammad Ali died in 2016, CAIR called him a “champion for peace and justice.”
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: 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