MEDIA ADVISORY -

DC: CAIR to Announce 'Learn, Don't Burn' Response to Fla. Quran Burnings

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/8/2010) -- On Thursday, September 9, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will hold a news conference in Washington, D.C., to announce a major educational initiative in response to an extremist Florida church's plan to burn copies of the Quran, Islam's holy text, on September 11. CAIR's "Learn, Don't Burn" initiative involves distribution of 200,000 Qurans to replace the 200 copies that the Florida church plans to burn.

At the news conference, CAIR will also announce other activities planned on Friday and Saturday in Florida and will release its new "Challenging Islamophobia" pocket guide.

WHAT: CAIR to Announce Response to Quran Burnings
WHEN: Thursday, September 9, 2010, 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: CAIR's Capitol Hill Headquarters, 453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., Washington, D.C.
CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail:ihooper@cair.com

"This educational initiative is designed for those who seek a proactive and constructive response to the church's very un-American actions," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. "The tiny group of extremists carrying out the book burningsclearly do not represent our society or its values and have been repudiated by all mainstream religious and political leaders."

Awad noted that he sent a letter today to CENTCOM Commander General James N. Mattis asking that he personally visit the Florida church to request that the September 11 burnings be cancelled.

SEE: CAIR Letter to Gen. Mattis

Last week, CAIR distributed public service announcements (PSAs) designed to challengegrowing anti-Muslim sentiment in American society. Those PSAs have already been viewed by more than 12 million people.

SEE: FBI Asked to Probe Vandalism at Phoenix Mosque

Earlier this month, CAIR released an online toolkit designed to help Muslim communities organize proactive local educational and outreach initiatives such as a "National Day of Unity and Healing" on the upcoming anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks.

The toolkit, called a "Teachable Moment Community Response Guide," offers guidance, tools and resources to help Muslim communities respond to specific current events such as the end of Ramadan Eid al-Fitr holiday occurring near September 11, the upcoming "Burn a Koran Day" by the Florida church, the anti-Muslim bigotry generated by the smear campaign against a planned Islamic community center in Manhattan, and the ongoing tension and misunderstanding surrounding the building or expansion of mosques nationwide.

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.

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CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, or 202-488-8787, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com