CAIR Concerned About 'Troubling Islamophobic Trend' Following Trump's Nomination of Sessions, Pompeo

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today expressed concern about a "troubling Islamophobic trend" in President-elect Donald Trump's recent appointments and nominations.

Today, President-elect Trump nominated Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions for the post of attorney general and Kansas Rep. Mike Pompeo to head the CIA.

CAIR: Donald Trump Appoints Islamophobe, Alleged Racist to Top Posts https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2016/11/18/trump-picks-sessions-for-attorney-general-pompeo-flynn-for-tops-jobs.html

In 2010, Pompeo defended one of his campaign staffers who posted a link to a blog that used the racial slur "turban topper" in reference to his opponent, who was of South Asian ancestry, and called President Obama an "evil muslim [sic] communist USURPER."

SEE: Kansas GOP Candidate Links to Racist Blog
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/kansas-gop-candidate-links-to-racist-blog/

In 2013, following the Boston Marathon attacks, Pompeo falsely alleged that American Muslim leaders were "potentially complicit" in terrorists acts for failing to speak out, despite the fact that the American Muslim community and its leaders have regularly and consistently condemned terror and religious extremism.

At that time, CAIR called Pompeo to correct his "false and irresponsible" attack on Muslim leaders and sent him a letter containing dozens of anti-terror statements of the type he incorrectly claimed Muslims had failed to make.

SEE: CAIR Asks Kansas Rep. Pompeo to Correct 'False and Irresponsible' Attack on Muslims
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/11946-cair-asks-kansas-rep-pompeo-to-correct-false-and-irresponsible-attack-on-muslims.html

Sen. Sessions has supported then presidential candidate Donald Trump's call to ban all Muslims from entering the United States. In 1986, Sessions was accused of making racist comments while serving as a U.S. attorney in Alabama, including calling an African-American assistant U.S. attorney "boy." Sessions has called the NAACP and the ACLU "un-American" and "communist-inspired."

CAIR: Civil Rights Groups Express Concern Over Sen. Jeff Sessions' Attorney General Nomination
https://www.buzzfeed.com/tamerragriffin/civil-rights-groups-react-to-jeff-sessions-attorney-general?utm_term=.hu4YpbgKX#.rsm0N7O86

"President-elect Trump's first appointments and nominations display a troubling Islamophobic trend that is of concern to American Muslims and should be of concern to all Americans," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. "We urge President-elect Trump to staff his administration with those who will serve to unite, not divide the nation. Personnel is policy."

Yesterday, CAIR called on President-elect Trump not to appoint retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn as his national security adviser because of his history of anti-Muslim comments and associations. Flynn was later appointed to that position, despite having in the past called Islam a "cancer," saying fear of Muslims is "rational" and being a current member of the board of advisers for the nation's most virulent anti-Muslim hate group, ACT for America.

SEE: Trump's National Security Adviser Has Called Islam 'a Cancer'
http://6abc.com/news/trumps-national-security-adviser-has-called-islam-a-cancer/1614374/

CAIR also decried the appointment of anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist and White nationalist "alt-right" extremist Stephen Bannon as Trump's chief strategist and senior counselor.

CAIR Decries Appointment of Islamophobe, White Nationalist Bannon as Top Trump Strategist
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/13884-cair-decries-appointment-of-islamophobe-white-nationalist-bannon-as-top-trump-strategist.html

The Washington-based Muslim civil rights group is monitoring a troubling spike in anti-Muslim and racist incidents since the November 8 election.

Muslim community members who believe their rights have been violated are being asked to contact local police and CAIR's Civil Rights Department at 202-742-6420 or by filing a report at: http://www.cair.com/civil-rights/report-an-incident/view/form.html

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.

La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.

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CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com

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SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)