CAIR: Minn. Leaders Asked to Repudiate Anti-Muslim Incidents 
Congressional candidate says constitution does not apply to Muslims,  anti-Islam fliers posted in St. Cloud
 
(ST. PAUL, MN, 12/10/09) - The Minnesota chapter of the Council on  American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today called on political and  religious leaders in that state to repudiate recent incidents of  anti-Muslim hate.
 
In the first incident, a challenger to Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), the  first Muslim elected to Congress, said Islam promotes criminal  behavior and that Muslims do not deserve constitutional protections.

On her campaign web site, Lynne Torgerson wrote in part: "[T]he  religion of Islam cannot be protected by the First Amendment to the  United States Constitution. It is not 'religion' recognizable under  the First Amendment of the United States Constitution."
 
In a media interview, she said, "I don't want other cultures coming  into the United States and chilling our freedoms."
 
SEE: Ellison Foe Torgerson Says Islam Promotes Criminal Behavior  
 
In St. Cloud, Minn., anti-Muslim cartoons with derogatory depictions  of Islam's Prophet Muhammad and Nazi swastikas were posted on utility  poles this week.
 
SEE: St. Cloud Police Investigate Anti-Islamic Cartoons  
 
"We believe there is a direct correlation between anti-Muslim  rhetoric and bias incidents targeting American Muslims," said CAIR-MN  Communications Director Jessica Zikri. "Our state's political and  religious leaders need to speak out strongly against anti-Muslim  hate, just as they would speak out against any other form of intolerance."
 
Zikri added that CAIR-MN is working with St. Cloud Muslim leaders to  offer training on community safety and religious freedom. In June,  CAIR-MN offered a "Know Your Rights" workshop at a convention  organized by the Islamic Center of St. Cloud.
 
On December 3, the Washington-based Muslim civil rights and advocacy  organization released its annual report on the status of American  Muslim civil rights. That report, titled "Seeking Full Inclusion," showed an increase in the number of bias-related incidents in 2008.
 
SEE: CAIR News Conference on U.S. Muslim Civil Rights (Video)  
 
To view the entire "Seeking Full Inclusion" report:
 
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.
 
- END -
 
CONTACT: CAIR-MN Communications Director Jessica Zikri, 612-226-3289, E-Mail: jzikri@cair.com; CAIR-MN Outreach Director Kashif Saroya, Tel: 651-216-9557, E-Mail: ksaroya@cair.com; CAIR National  Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726,  E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com