Muslim civil rights group calls on officials, interfaith leaders to support targeted mosque

WASHINGTON, July 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today denounced a planned anti-mosque protest by California Tea Party supporters who are being told to bring dogs to harass Muslim worshippers during a Friday congregational prayer, or "Jummah."

CAIR-LA called on local officials and interfaith leaders to show support for the Islamic Center of Temecula Valley, the target of the July 30 protest by the Southwest Riverside County (SWRC) Tea Party group. The protest is in opposition to a proposal for a new mosque in the area.

SEE: Tea Party Anti-Islam Mosque Protest Planned for July 30

http://tinyurl.com/2e5x6g7

An e-mail alert announcing the anti-mosque protest sent to area newspapers by "a leader of a conservative coalition that has been active with Republican and Tea Party functions" stated: "An Islamic Mosque is planned to be built in Temecula. Islam is not a religion. It is a worldwide political movement meant [sic] on domination of the world. And it is meant to subjugate all people under Islamic law. . .Islam permits lying!. . .The Islam's [sic] treat women as second class people and they also hate dogs. Women are forbidden to sing and dogs are killed. We will not be submissive to Sharia Law. Tennessee was able to stop the Mosque so bring your Bibles, flags, signs, dogs and singing voice on Friday."

SEE: Temecula Mosque Proposal Targeted in Pending Protest

http://www.myvalleynews.com/story/49601/

"Californians of all faiths should repudiate those who would target a house of worship using tactics specifically designed to cause offense," said CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush. "National and state Tea Party leaders should explain why their movement has apparently deviated from its agenda on fiscal responsibility and limited government to the promotion of Islamophobia."

Ayloush noted that many Muslims believe the saliva of dogs invalidates the ritual ablution (wudu) performed before prayer. For this reason, it has become a cultural norm for individuals not to have dogs in their houses -- not because the dog is "hated." Islam's Prophet Muhammad allowed the use of dogs for protection and for hunting, and he related several traditions (hadith) in which individuals were rewarded by God for protecting animals, including dogs, and punished for mistreating them.

In response to the planned protest, the Islamic Center of Temecula Valley released a statement that read in part: "It has come to our attention that a group of people seek to disrupt our prayer session on Friday, July 30th. We are disheartened and saddened that a group of our neighbors seeks to disrespect and make our community feel unwelcome."

SEE: Temecula-Based Islamic Center Responds to Planned Mosque Protest

http://www.swrnn.com/southwest-riverside/2010-07-26/news/temecula-based-islamic-center-responds-to-planned-protest-to-mosque-plans

Last week, CAIR called on Florida GOP U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio not to accept an invitation to take part in an August 21 Tea Party rally featuring an extremist anti-Islam keynote speaker who has stated that Muslims should not be allowed to hold public office, that an American Muslim "cannot be a loyal citizen" and that Islam is the "real enemy."

SEE: CAIR Asks Fla. U.S. Senate Hopeful Not to Attend Anti-Islam Rally

http://tinyurl.com/25ggckb

Earlier this month, CAIR offered support for an NAACP resolution asking the Tea Party movement to condemn racism within its ranks.

SEE: CAIR Backs NAACP Resolution on Tea Party Racism

http://tinyurl.com/2dnnpvt

Other Islamophobic incidents nationwide indicate a growing level of anti-Islam sentiment in American society and a trend toward seeking to restrict American Muslim civil rights.

SEE: Paranoid Politics: The Denial of Islamophobia

http://tinyurl.com/2vkdsrp

Tennessee Gubernatorial Candidate Takes Heat for Islam Jibe

http://tinyurl.com/35wc28k

Anti-Muslim Bigot and Fanatic Explains Islam to the FBI and the Tidewater Joint Terrorism Task Force

http://tinyurl.com/2dvgubb

Video: Fla. Church to Hold Koran Burning

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zG7jdHrWhQ

Muslims Attract Suspicion of US Police Over Public Prayer

http://tinyurl.com/24saumz

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: Munira Syeda, CAIR-LA Communications Manager, 1-714-776-1847, 1-714-851-4851, [email protected], Ibrahim Hooper, CAIR National Communications Director, 1-202-488-8787, 1-202-744-7726, [email protected], Amina Rubin, CAIR Communications Coordinator, 1-202-488-8787, 1-202-341-4171, [email protected]

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations