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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAIR Welcomes Withdrawal of Extremist's Nomination to Va. Library Board

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 1/12/14) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed a decision to withdraw the nomination of a political and anti-abortion extremist to a Virginia county library board.

Loudoun County Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio (R-Sterling) now says he will withdraw the nomination of Andrew Beacham to the Loudoun County library board of trustees.

SEE: Delgaudio says he will withdraw Andrew Beacham's nomination to Loudoun library board (Wash. Post)

Beacham, a Tea Party supporter and associate of extremist anti-abortion activist Randall Terry, once joined Terry in tearing pages from the Quran, Islam's revealed text, in front of the White House on Sept. 11, 2010. Beacham told reporters the only reason he did not burn the Quran was because burning on White House property is a felony.

As a political candidate in Kentucky, Beacham aired television ads comparing President Obama to Adolf Hitler and serial killer Ted Bundy. In response to former President George H.W. Bush's expressed regrets at being unable to attend the funeral for Nelson Mandela, Beacham tweeted, "I didn't know you supported communist terrorists killing Christians and raping innocent girls."

SEE: Loudoun names Andrew Beacham, who once tore pages out of Koran, to library board (Wash. Post)

"We welcome the decision by Supervisor Delgaudio to withdraw his nomination of Andrew Beacham and thereby avoid the embarrassment to county residents of having an individual who stated his desire to burn the Quran on the Loudoun County library board of trustees," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad.

CAIR recently published a major report, "Legislating Fear: Islamophobia and its Impact in the United States," which identifies 37 organizations dedicated to promoting the type of anti-Islam prejudice that can lead to bias-motivated incidents targeting American Muslims.

Legislating Fear: Islamophobia and its Impact in the United States

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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