The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said the Trump administration must protect religious liberty for all Americans after it appointed multiple anti-Muslim extremists to a new Religious Liberty Commission ostensibly founded to “safeguard and promote America’s founding principle of religious freedom.”
Video: Trump Announces Leaders of New Religious Liberty Commission
A White House Fact Sheet on the commission states in part:
“The Commission is tasked with producing a comprehensive report on the foundations of religious liberty in America, strategies to increase awareness of and celebrate America’s peaceful religious pluralism, current threats to religious liberty, and strategies to preserve and enhance protections for future generations.”
CAIR did express concern about reports that the commission includes notorious Islamophobes like Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Dr. Ben Carson and Pastor Franklin Graham.
SEE: Patrick boycotts Senate’s first Muslim prayer
Ben Carson says no Muslim should ever become US president
Rev. Franklin Graham: Islam ‘evil’
In a statement, CAIR said: “Protecting religious liberty for everyone in America is an important goal that our government should pursue, but the inclusion of anti-Muslim extremists who have opposed religious freedom for American Muslims threatens to undermine the Religious Liberty Commission’s stated purpose. We call on the Trump administration to protect religious liberty for everyone in America and avoid elevating figures who only support religious freedom for one community.”
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