Controversial Islamic organization draws condemnation for nonsupport of secular summit

The controversial Council on American Islamic Relations, CAIR, viewed as a radical Islamist organization by many, was widely condemned today as word spread of their nonsupport of the Secular Islam Summit, an event held several weeks prior to this announcement.

(LOS ANGELES, CA, 03/29/2006) – The prominent educational organization The United American Committee announced today their condemnation of CAIR, the Council on American Islamic Relations, over a ferocious attack by CAIR against a summit held this past March 4th & 5th in which secular Muslims met to discuss reforms needed to permit Muslims to co-exist peacefully in Western societies.

The several hundred attendees at the Secular Islam Summit, held in St. Petersburg Florida, produced a historic declaration against fundamental Islam. Entitled the 'St. Petersburg Declaration', it has provided hope to Muslims everywhere who wish to see reformation in the Islamic world. CAIR immediately launched media attacks in an attempt to discredit the event. CAIR denounced the Summit as “illegitimate”, and subsequently labeled its participants as apostates. When pressed, CAIR would not divulge specifics regarding their criticism of the event and of the declaration, however some may look to the contents of the St. Petersburg declaration to ascertain reasons for CAIR's objections.

One point within the St. Petersburg Declaration, “We insist upon the separation of religion from state and the observance of universal human rights”, directly contradicts with the Islamic law currently in place which governs many Islamic nations, including Saudi Arabia, a regime which is a large source of CAIR's financial support. Such Islamic laws include the required veiling of women, the death penalty for renouncing Islam, and other practices viewed as barbaric by the Western world. CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper has stated in interviews that he believes America would be better off under Islamic law than it would be under democracy. Another point in the declaration, “We believe in the equality of all human persons”, may conflict with CAIR's views of women, as well as non-Muslims, and their equality to Muslim men in the eyes of CAIR. Yet another point of the declaration, “We say to Muslim believers: there is a noble future for Islam as a personal faith, not a political doctrine” may challenge CAIR's belief that Islam should indeed be a political doctrine to be introduced and enforced in America.

In the past, CAIR has supported Islamic schools known as madrases, yet little is known to the public about the teachings within such schools. CAIR's objection to another point in the St. Petersburg Declaration addressing this issue may shed light on CAIR's desired curriculum for such schools. The declaration which CAIR objects to is as follows; “We call on the governments of the world to reform sectarian education that teaches intolerance and bigotry towards non-Muslims.” CAIR's objection to this point may indicate that the Council is working to support sectarian education that teaches intolerance and bigotry towards non-Muslims.

The United American Committee hopes to confront these issues with CAIR and bring the Council's views to public light at a UAC rally this Saturday March 31st at 1:00 PM in front of CAIR's Southern California offices at 2180 W. Crescent Ave. Anaheim, CA. This rally will be one of several rallies taking place in cities across the nation on March 31st to address these and other issues relating to the threat of Islamic radicalism. In addition to the Anaheim rally, rallies will be held simultaneously in New York, Florida, Massachusetts, Missouri, Hawaii, and Washington State. Individuals of all ethnic, religious, and political backgrounds are encouraged to attend. More information and location details for the rallies can be found at www.UnitedAmericanCommittee.org

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