(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/17/16) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today issued a brief, “Islamophobia in Politics: A 2016 Review,†in which it identified three key themes of Islamophobic political rhetoric this year.
CAIR’s brief shows that anti-Muslim and anti-Islam political discourse has focused on issues such as refugees, immigration and travel, and has employed terminology demonizing Islam and calling for the surveillance of Muslim communities.
Statements by public officials, candidates for office and ranking members of political parties are compiled in this brief – including: “Giving public benefits to any person or family that practices Islam is aiding and abetting the enemy. That is treason.†– New Hampshire State Rep. Ken Weyler
Islamophobia in Politics: A 2016 Review
CAIR attributes the rise in anti-Muslim incidents nationwide in large part to Islamophobic rhetoric used by public officials.
Video: CAIR Seeks Protection for U.S. Muslims After Planned Terror Attack on Kansas Mosque (Fox)
Video: CAIR Wants 'Trump' Vandalism on Iowa Mosque Investigated as a Hate Crime
“To safeguard America’s values of acceptance and religious pluralism, it is critical that public figures and leaders speak out against anti-Muslim bigotry, rather than perpetuate it,†said CAIR Department to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia Coordinator Zainab Arain. “Islamophobic rhetoric is detrimental to all Americans.â€
The brief does not include the statements of the 2016 presidential candidates. See here for our brief on the presidential race: http://islamophobia.org/15-reports/164-islamophobia-in-the-2016-presidential-election.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.
http://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational                Â
Subscribe to CAIR's Email List
http://tinyurl.com/cairsubscribe         Â
Subscribe to CAIR's Twitter Feed
http://twitter.com/cairnational             Â
Subscribe to CAIR's YouTube Channel
http://www.youtube.com/cairtv         Â
– END –
CONTACT: CAIR Department to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia Coordinator Zainab Arain, 202-742-6410, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]Â Â