(WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/21/16) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on officials in Mifflin County, Pa., to repudiate anti-Muslim bigotry expressed by a colleague who posted a series of Islamophobic messages on Facebook.
Mifflin County Commissioner Lisa Nancollas posted an image of a mosque with a red “no†symbol covering it and stating “No Islam Allowed.†She also wrote: “I believe in the Christian God. I don’t believe in Islam, sharia law nor do I believe in Allah†and said people “are only allowed in the kingdom of God if they accept God as their savior not Allah.†Nancollas’ Facebook account name includes the phrase “Mifflin County Commissioner.â€
SEE: County Commissioner Posts Anti-Islamic Messages on Facebook Â
“Anyone is free to hold whatever religious beliefs they wish, but public officials who serve a diverse population and are thereby obligated to protect the religious rights of all community members should be held to a higher standard of conduct,†said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. “We urge county commissioners and other public officials to repudiate Ms. Nancollas’ intolerant and divisive views.â€
Hooper noted a spike in anti-Muslim incidents in recent months, which the civil rights groups attributes at least in part to Islamophobic rhetoric used by public figures like Nancollas, GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump and others.
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Last week, CAIR’s Minnesota chapter called on the FBI to investigate an alleged threat by two men to burn down the house of a Somali-American woman in that state if she and her family do not leave town. CAIR’s chapter in Georgia also called for an investigation of a possible bias motive for vandalism targeting an Islamic charity.
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Also last week, CAIR called on state and federal authorities to investigate alleged threats to the Muslim community in Maine.
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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: http://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 National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]
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