(PHOENIX, AZ, 8/9/2022) – The Arizona chapter of the Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR-AZ) today responded to a ruling by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on a Phoenix police officer’s Facebook posts denigrating Muslims.
The court found that the officer’s posts, which featured Islamophobic images and content, implicated the First Amendment’s Pickering Connick test. This means that the court would have to balance the interest of free speech and the interest of the state in not employing law enforcement officials who hold bigoted views that could lead to discriminatory treatment of citizens. The court ruled that interest balancing cannot be done at the motion to dismiss stage.
The court has yet to rule on whether combating Islamophobia is a legitimate interest of the police department.
In a statement, CAIR-Arizona Executive Director Azza Abuseif said:
“The content promoted by this officer draws into question his ability to treat members of the Muslim community fairly in accordance with the law. Officers who hold such views threaten the work of their departments, and we expect that the Ninth Circuit will recognize the department’s legitimate interest in ensuring that anti-Muslim bigotry is removed from its ranks.”
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 Arizona Executive Director Azza Abuseif, 602-349-1572, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]