To the editor: Contributing author Josh Hammer’s current column repeats bigoted, discredited conspiracy theories about American Muslims (“Label the Muslim Brotherhood’s branches as terrorist organizations,” Aug. 15).
Simply as extremists as soon as smeared Catholic and Jewish People as disloyal and accused Black civil rights leaders and Vietnam Conflict protesters of being communist brokers, Islamophobes immediately falsely declare that American Muslim establishments are a part of a worldwide terrorist conspiracy. The principle goal of Hammer’s article was my civil rights group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
For greater than 30 years, CAIR has defended free speech, racial equality and spiritual liberty whereas persistently condemning all types of bigotry — together with antisemitism and Islamophobia — and unjust violence. We now have spoken out towards terrorism so typically that ISIS as soon as put a goal on our govt director. Like different American Muslim establishments, CAIR is an unbiased nonprofit, not an agent of any international group.
If Hammer’s actual grievance with CAIR is our advocacy for Palestinian human rights, polls present that almost all People oppose U.S. help for Israel’s devastating struggle in Gaza. Does Hammer smear American Muslim teams as a result of he fears our rising civic engagement will proceed to reorient U.S. coverage on Israel and Gaza in a extra simply, humane path?
Anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian activists are entitled to lash out, however the remainder of us shouldn’t take their bigoted conspiracy theories critically.
Edward Ahmed Mitchell, Washington, D.C.
This author is a civil rights legal professional and the nationwide deputy director of CAIR.
