CAIR Uses Terror Attack On French Magazine To Claim It Defends Free Speech; In 2006 CAIR Leader Called For Worldwide “Blasphemy Laws”

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Condemnation by Global Muslim Brotherhood entities of the apparent terrorist attack on the offices of the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo has been widespread on social media. Perhaps the most disingenuous and self-serving of those comes from the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) which has attempted to position itself as a defender of free speech. According to the CAIR statement:

logoWASHINGTON, Jan. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned a shooting attack on the offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and repeated its defense of freedom of speech.

Twelve people were killed today in the attack by individuals reportedly shouting “God is great” in Arabic. While no one has claimed responsibility for the deadly attack, the magazine has been threatened and attacked in the past because of its derogatory references to Islam and its Prophet Muhammad. The perpetrators remain at large.

In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:

“We strongly condemn this brutal and cowardly attack and reiterate our repudiation of any such assault on freedom of speech, even speech that mocks faiths and religious figures. The proper response to such attacks on the freedoms we hold dear is not to vilify any faith, but instead to marginalize extremists of all backgrounds who seek to stifle freedom and to create or widen societal divisions.

“We offer sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed or injured in this attack. We also call for the swift apprehension of the perpetrators, who should be punished to the full extent of the law.”

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In 2006, CAIR rejected the sometimes violent response to Danish cartoons mocking the Prophet Muhammad.

In February 2006 however, then Florida CAIR head and national board member Parvez Ahmed called for worldwide “blasphemy laws” in connection with the Danish cartoon controversy. At a CAIR-sponsored event at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on February 16, titled “Religious and Political Perspectives on the Cartoon Controversy”, he was reported to have said:

I think the next steps would be to broaden the scope of anti-hate laws and even contemplate about passing blasphemy laws, because blasphemy with such sacred icons, like the Prophet Muhammad, like the Koran, or the cross, or other religious symbols…So governments, legislatures, international bodies…must contemplate about what are the ways in which an anti-blasphemy law can be passed that can protect the right to exercise freedom of religion.

The GMBDW reported last week on another CAIR statement that exaggerated its relationship with the US government.

The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) describes itself as “a grassroots civil rights and advocacy group and as “America’s largest Islamic civil liberties group.” CAIR was founded in 1994 by three officers of the Islamic Association of Palestine, part of the U.S. Hamas infrastructure at that time.  Documents discovered in the course of the the terrorism trial of the Holy Land Foundation confirmed that the founders and current leaders of CAIR were part of the Palestine Committee of the Muslim Brotherhood and that CAIR itself is part of the US. Muslim Brotherhood.

For a profile of CAIR, go here.

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