CAIR to Announce Constitutional Challenge to Trump's 'Muslim Ban' Executive Order

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Monday, January 30, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will hold a news conference at its Capitol Hill headquarters in Washington, D.C., to announced the filing of a federal lawsuit on behalf of more than 20 individuals challenging the "Muslim ban" executive order signed today by President Donald Trump.

[MEDIA NOTE: CAIR's news conference will be live-streamed on its Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational ]

WHAT: CAIR to Hold News Conference to Announce Suit Against Trump's 'Muslim Ban' Order
WHEN: Monday, January 30, 1 p.m.
WHERE: CAIR's Capitol Hill Headquarters, 453 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20003
CONTACT: CAIR National Litigation Director Lena Masri, 248-390-9784, lmasri@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com  

The lawsuit, to be filed in the U.S. District Court – Western District of Virginia, will challenge the constitutionality of the order because its apparent purpose and underlying motive is to ban people of the Islamic faith from Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.

"There is no evidence that refugees – the most thoroughly vetted of all people entering our nation – are a threat to national security," said CAIR National Litigation Director Lena F. Masri, Esq. "This is an order that is based on bigotry, not reality."

"The courts must do what President Trump will not—ensure that our government refrains from segregating people based on their faith," said Attorney Gadeir Abbas, Esq., who is co-counsel on the lawsuit.

"Our First Amendment is under attack. We, as attorneys, are foot soldiers of the American Constitution and took an oath to protect all from being targeted by the government because of their faith," said Attorney Shereef Akeel, Esq., who is also co-counsel on the lawsuit.

The Washington-based civil rights and advocacy organization urges community members to report any bias incidents to police and to 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.

CONTACT: CAIR National Litigation Director Lena Masri, 248-390-9784, lmasri@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com  

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cair-to-announce-constitutional-challenge-to-trumps-muslim-ban-executive-order-300398388.html

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)