Today, the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ (CAIR) written statement in opposition to the nomination of Peter B. Hegseth for Secretary of Defense was entered into the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee’s hearing record.
READ: CAIR’S OPPOSITION STATEMENT
WATCH: HEGSETH’S NOMINATION HEARING
Yesterday, CAIR submitted its opposition statement to all Republican and Democratic members, in addition to staff members, of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
CAIR previously called for opposition to Hegseth’s nomination following widespread reports that he repeatedly shouted “kill all Muslims” in a “drunk and violent manner” in 2015. CAIR is also calling for the Senate to reject Hegseth because of his calls for the destruction of Al-Aqsa Masjid, his support for war crimes, and his past smears targeting Muslims and Islam.
CAIR is specifically urging members of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee to question Hegseth on how he would uphold the rights and religious freedom of American Muslim soldiers in light of previously writing that Islam “is not a religion of peace, and it never has been” and claiming that “all modern Muslim countries are either formal or de facto no-go zones for practicing Christians and Jews.”
CAIR notes Hegseth has a tattoo stating ”Deus Vult,” Latin for “God wills it.” That phrase was the battle cry of the First Crusade.
Other Nomination Hearings This Week
Separately, this week CAIR also submitted suggested questions to several Senate committees holding nomination hearings for former Florida Attorney General Pamela Jo Bondi, nominated for Attorney General of the Department of Justice; South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, nominated for Secretary of Homeland Security; and Florida U.S. Senator Marco A. Rubio, nominated for Secretary of State. CAIR is encouraging senators to ask these respective nominees on their positions and plans to uphold and respect the civil rights of all Americans.
In the coming days and weeks, CAIR will encourage these and other relevant Senate committees to hold the incoming administration’s nominees accountable and to question them on their plans to uphold the civil rights and liberties of all Americans, as well as the human rights of those affected by U.S. foreign policies.
END
CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Director of Government Affairs Department Robert S. McCaw, 202-716-6242, 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