CALIF. MUSLIMS CONDEMN ‘INFLAMMATORY’ CLAIMS OF JEWISH GROUP

AJC claims Muslim leader given award because of fears over violence

(LOS ANGELES, CA, 9/22/06) - The Southern California office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today condemned a controversial Jewish group for “inflammatory” remarks made by one of its top officials who claimed Muslims in that state may turn to violence.

In an interview with the Jewish Journal, the associate director of the American Jewish Congress Western Region said the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission was intimidated into giving an award to a Muslim leader, Maher Hathout.

Allyson Rowen Taylor said commissioners were afraid to vote against the award because: “They’re afraid of the Muslim community burning cars, burning effigies and burning synagogues.”

SEE: Controversial Muslim Leader Hathout Gets Award Despite Opposition
http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=16513

“It is unconscionable for a group that claims to seek the ‘preservation of religious freedom in the United States’ to smear an entire faith community with baseless and inflammatory allegations,” said CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush.

Ayloush asked the American Jewish Congress to stop “demonizing” Muslims and instead to promote mutual understanding and respect with all groups in the state. The AJC faced criticism recently for honoring three “Muslim reformers” who in fact say publicly that they have left Islam.

SEE: Defining Today’s Moderate Muslim (Los Angeles Times)
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-muslim17sep17,1,7504824.story

CAIR, America’s largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 32 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. 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.