CAIR CONDEMNS TANCREDO'S CALL FOR VOTING LITERACY TESTS - TOP Civil rights group says tests would 'turn back the clock on the civil rights movement' (WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/11/10) - A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy group today said a recent statement by former Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) seeming to advocate literacy tests for voting rights would "turn back the clock on the civil rights movement." The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned Tancredo for claiming that President Obama is a "Socialist ideologue" who was elected only because "we do not have a civics, literacy test before people can vote." [Jim Crow-era literacy tests were once used to keep African-Americans from voting in Southern elections. In 2007, Tancredo advocated threatening to bomb the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina as part of his proposed anti-terror policy.] Tancredo made those remarks at the recent National Tea Party Convention in Nashville, Tenn. Another convention speaker questioned whether President Obama was born in Hawaii and cast doubt on whether the president was legitimately elected. SEE: Tea Party Convention's Racial Brouhaha: Obama Won Because Jim Crow-Era Law Not on Books - Tancredo "Mr. Tancredo's offensive remarks are an insult to all those who fought, and sometimes died, to ensure that Americans of all races could exercise their right to vote," said CAIR National Board Chairman State Senator Larry Shaw (NC). "To re-impose such discriminatory tests would turn back the clock on the civil rights movement." Sen. Shaw called on elected officials in both major parties to repudiate Tancredo's remarks. He also urged National Tea Party Convention organizers to distance themselves from the racist and extremist views expressed by Tancredo and other speakers. 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. CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com ----- CAIR: TENN. MOSQUE VANDALISM SHOWS NEED TO CHALLENGE ISLAMOPHOBIA - TOP Authorities probe Muslims go home, crosses spray-painted on Nashville mosque (WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/10/10) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said today that hate vandalism at a Tennessee mosque re-emphasizes the need for religious and political leaders to speak out against growing Islamophobia in American society. CAIR, a Washington-based Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, said vandals spray-painted Muslims go home and crosses on the exterior of the Al-Farooq Mosque in Nashville. The FBI has been notified of the vandalism. SEE: Nashville Mosque Vandalized (The Tennessean) As we have said each time a mosque is vandalized or an American Muslim is the target of a bias-motivated attack, it is the duty of our nations religious and political leaders to speak out against the rising level of Islamophobia nationwide, said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. The FBI should investigate this incident as a hate crime against a religious minority. Awad noted that a recent survey showed that more than 4 in 10 Americans admit to anti-Muslim prejudice. SEE: Poll on Anti-Islam Bias Shows Need for U.S. Muslim Outreach SEE ALSO: Injured Texas Muslim Student Says He Did Report Bullying 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. CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com SEE ALSO: CAIR-MI: MUSLIM GROUP MAY SUE IN INQUIRY OF MACOMB INMATE'S DEATH - TOP Christine Ferretti, The Detroit News, 2/12/10 Mount Clemens -- A Muslim advocacy group is threatening legal action after the county failed to respond to requests for documents related to the January death of a jail inmate. The Council on American-Islamic Relations said it renewed Freedom of Information Act requests Thursday with the Macomb County medical examiner and county corporation counsel, informing them the group plans to take legal action if they don't respond. CAIR is seeking the autopsy report for Mohammed Abdul-Fazal Chowdhury, who was found dead in his cell Jan. 8 at the Macomb County Jail. Authorities said the 22-year-old Bangladeshi native, who was awaiting trial in the stabbing death of his wife, used a razor obtained through the jail commissary to kill himself. The group got involved, along with the Hamtramck branch of the NAACP, after community members questioned if Chowdhury's death was a homicide. (More) ----- CAIR APPLAUDS OREGON VOTE TO REMOVE BAN ON TEACHERS HIJAB - TOP Passage of House Bill 3686 is a victory for religious freedom in the workplace (WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/10/10) - A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization today applauded a vote in the Oregon House of Representatives that will help remove an 87-year ban on teachers wearing religiously-mandated attire such as an Islamic head scarf, or hijab. The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said todays 51-8 vote on House Bill 3686 is a victory for religious freedom in the workplace. SEE: Students Against Religious Apparel Ban (Daily Vanguard) The Oregon Senate must now vote on the bill before it becomes law. When this legislation takes effect, Muslim, Jewish and Sikh teachers will no longer be forced to choose between their faith and their chosen profession, said Arsalan Bukhari, executive director of CAIRs Washington state chapter. Bukhari said CAIR has consistently defended the right of Americans of all faiths to wear religious attire in the workplace, in schools, in courtrooms, and as customers in public venues such as banks. 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. CONTACT: CAIR-Washington Executive Director Arsalan Bukhari, 206-931-3655, E-Mail:abukhari@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com ----- CAIR SUPPORTS U.S. MUSLIM RELIGIOUS COUNCIL STATEMENT ON BODY SCANNERS - TOP Islamic scholars seek changes to scanner software, urge pat-down alternative (WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/10/10) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today supported a statement by a prominent group of Muslim scholars that full-body scanners being introduced in airports worldwide violate religious and privacy rights. In a February 9 statement, the Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) asked that scanner software be altered to produce only an outline of the body and urged Muslim travelers to avail themselves of alternative pat-down searches. (The term "fiqh" refers to Islamic jurisprudence.) We support the Fiqh Councils statement on full-body scanners and believe that the religious and privacy rights of passengers can be respected while maintaining safety and security, said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. The full Statement of the Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) on the Use of Full Body Scanners for Security at the Airports and Other Places states: The Full Body Security Scanners (also called Nude-body scanners) are being installed at various airports in United States and Europe. Several human rights and religious groups have expressed their concerns and disapproval of such scanners on the grounds of violation of privacy and human dignity. The Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) emphasizes that a general and public use of such scanners is against the teachings of Islam, natural law and all religions and cultures that stand for decency and modesty. It is a violation of clear Islamic teachings that men or women be seen naked by other men and women. Islam highly emphasizes haya (modesty) and considers it part of faith. The Quran has commanded the believers, both men and women, to cover their private parts. Human beings are urged to be modest in their dress. See Holy Quran, 7:26-27; 24:30-31; 33:59. Exception to this rule can be made in case of extreme necessity, such as medical treatment, to investigate a crime or in a situation of imminent danger. There must be a compelling case for the necessity and the exemption to this rule must be proportional to the demonstrated need. FCNA fully supports the necessary measures for the safety and protection of all passengers. It is, however, deeply concerned about the use of nude body scanners for this purpose. FCNA recommends that instead of producing and displaying a picture of the body, software should be designed to produce only the picture of questionable materials on an outline of the body. Further, other technologies could be used that detect the presence of explosives without infringing on modesty as some European leaders have pointed out. FCNA appreciates the alternate provision of pat-down search (when needed) and therefore recommends to Muslims to avail this option over the nude body scanners. In 2005, FCNA issued an Islamic legal ruling, or fatwa, against terrorism and religious extremism. SEE: U.S. Muslim Religious Council Issues Fatwa Against Terrorism http://tinyurl.com/terrorfatwa 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. CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com