CAIR-Missouri, Muslim Groups Call on U.S. Senate Candidate Josh Hawley to Denounce Islamophobic Radio Ads(ST. LOUIS, MO, 9/28/2018) – The Imam Council of Metropolitan St. Louis (ICMSTL), Muslims for a Better America (MBA) and the Missouri Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MO) are calling on U.S. Senate candidate Josh Hawley to condemn anti-Muslim Islamophobic campaign advertisement targeting his opponent.
The ad state: “Liberal Democrats like Claire McCaskill support teaching about Islam. After all, if our kids think that all religions are the same they’re not likely to choose any of them.” It then features a child in conversation with her father, saying, "But, Dad, my teacher says Christians, Jews and Muslims all worship the same God. What's wrong with that?" "What's wrong, honey, is that it's not true," her father responds.
Hear a partial recording of the ad:https://twitter.com/umik90/status/1042889483673321473
“This blatant Islamophobic ad is appalling and represents the ugliness of today’s politics,” said CAIR-Missouri Executive Director Faizan Syed. “All people of faith and conscience should stand together to condemn the demonization of any minority community for political gain. I pray that Josh Hawley will use this as an opportunity to stand for what’s right and condemn this ad.”
SEE: CAIR-Missouri: Attack Ad Against McCaskill Slammed as 'Islamophobic'
The ad was created by Stars and Stripes Forever PAC, whose chairman, John Philip Sousa IV, defended the ads by saying: “Most good Americans don’t want Islam taught in American public schools. Why should we allow Islamicism to be taught?”
SEE:Claire McCaskill targeted by Islamophobic radio ad in Missouri Senate race
“We call on all candidates, and especially Attorney General Hawley, to denounce the hateful claims made by Sousa and his secretive PAC” said Saad Amir executive director of MBA. “Though we know Mr. Hawley was not allowed to coordinate with Sousa, anything less than a full denunciation of this hateful rhetoric is a tacit endorsement of what it says. It signifies that it’s OK to say these things as long as it comes from ‘fringe elements’”
The Muslim community has reached out to Josh Hawley’s campaign to discuss these Islamophobic ads.
Such ads in support of GOP candidates are nothing new to Missouri. During the 2016 Governor race the Greitens campaign sold “ISIS hunting permits” to fundraise for his campaign concerning the Muslim community.
SEE:Missouri candidate’s ‘ISIS Hunting Permits’ concern Muslim community
“In the Quran God says that he created humanity into nations and tribes so they may learn from one another not so that they may despise one another” said Imam Djilali Kacem president of ICMSTL. “The best way to counter the growing divisions within our diverse nation is to challenge bigotry with education. This Islamophobic ad promotes ignorance in schools which can and is leading to the growing hate and intolerance in our society.”
CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR-MO Executive Director Faizan Syed, 314-403-3626, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; MBA Executive Director Saad Amir, (314)732-6353, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
