ADL Statement on Anti-Muslim Bigotry
ADL Statement on Anti-Muslim Bigotry
Over the past few months, an intensified level of anti-Muslim bigotry has surfaced in a variety of public forums. While some of the anti-Muslim sentiment has fed on growing community concerns about Islamic extremism, much of it has focused on various plans to relocate or expand mosques around the country. Several groups with extreme anti-Muslim agendas have launched public campaigns that have both sheltered and fueled this bigotry. Some of the more troubling public campaigns have been initiated by Stop Islamization of America (SIOA), the
SIOA, which has organized inflammatory demonstrations against the proposed Islamic Center near Ground Zero, has run bus ads juxtaposing an image of an airplane headed toward the burning World Trade Center with another building labeled “WTC Mega Mosque” and the words “Why There?”; The Dove World Outreach Center called for an “International Burn a Koran Day” on the anniversary of September 11 attacks; OSA has demonstrated in front of mosques and issued flyers that read: “Islam is another murderous cover-up for the devil;” and ACT is calling for an end to “Muslim immigration.”
The intolerance advocated by these and other groups has been exacerbated by occasional calls for violence. In May, for example, Michael Berry, a
Incidents of violence have also marked the current atmosphere. For example, on February 4, 2011, a Muslim man was stabbed in the neck with a pocket knife at a bar in
Some opponents seem to be taking their cues from public figures. In June, Pat Robertson made the following statement on the 700 Club: “We have to recognize that Islam is not a religion. It is a worldwide political movement meant on domination of the world…” Robertson’s statement later appeared in an event announcement for a demonstration against the Islamic Center of Temecula Valley in
There are other indications that some Tea Party activists are increasingly involved in anti-Muslim campaigns and bigotry. Tea Party meetings in
Not surprisingly, numerous online forums have featured anti-Muslim bigotry as well. For example, an online post against “Muslim Family Day” at Six Flags, which is scheduled for September 12, reads: “STOP THE MUSLIM DAY - THEY ARE NOT AMERICANS. THEY DO NOT ABIDE BY OUR CONSTITUTION - THEY ARE NOT ONE OF US.” Similarly, the Jewish Task Force (JTF), an extremist Jewish group based in
Other concerns about Islam are being raised as well. For example, during an August 19 interview with CNN, Rev. Franklin Graham said, “I think the president’s problem is that he was born a Muslim, his father was a Muslim. The seed of Islam is passed through the father like the seed of Judaism is passed through the mother. He was born a Muslim, his father gave him an Islamic name.”
In addition, a number of state lawmakers and/or voters have considered proposals that would restrict the application of religious law, or specifically shari’a law [Islamic law], in their courts. Additionally, a number of lawmakers have proposed bills that outlaw application of foreign law that violates or likely violates state or federal constitutions. In many of these cases, the lawmaker who sponsored the bill indicated that an intention of the bill is to prohibit the application of shari’a law. These measures against foreign law are at best redundant and at worst have the potential to violate not only the constitutional rights of those in the Muslim community, but of those in the Jewish and other religious communities, as well.
This statement along with other resources may be found on the ADL site at http://www.adl.org/main_Extremism/muslim_bigotry.htm
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