Thankful Congress Voted Against Stigmatizing 'Strategic Assessments' of Islamic Doctrine
Thank Congress for Voting Against Stigmatizing 'Strategic Assessments' of Islamic Doctrine
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/17/17) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, is calling on all Americans to thank members of the U.S. House of Representatives for the bi-partisan defeat of Congressman Trent Franks' (R-AZ) stigmatizing 'Strategic Assessments' of Islamic doctrine Amendment number 13 to H.R. 2810, to the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act.
TAKE ACTION HERE - THANK YOUR ELECTED HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE TODAY
Congressional opposition to the amendment was led by Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee Adam Smith (D-WA).
Last Thursday, the amendment was debated on the House floor with Rep. Franks in support and Representatives Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), and Jamie Raskin (D-MD) opposing.
SEE: Video: Rep. Keith Ellison Speaks Out Against Rep. Franks' Anti-Islam NDAA Amendment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyULm6AFevU
Last Friday, in a narrow vote of 208 “Yes” to 217 “No,” 27 Republicans and 190 Democrats voted against the amendment with no Democrats voting in support. The NDAA is an annual defense authorization act that provides valuable funding for the armed forces.
SEE: Final Vote Results for Rep. Franks’ Amendment Number 13
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll372.xml
Congress joined with Muslim and civil liberties opposing the amendment because it unfairly targeted one faith, Islam. Moreover, the amendment was counter to the fundamental American principle that the government should not have the authority to define what constitutes “unorthodox” religious practices, which could result in American Muslims being further targeted by bias.
The amendment also would have mandated identification of key Islamic leaders that practice any form of Islam. CAIR is urging member of the public to thank Congress for voicing opposition to this because it is inappropriate for the U.S. government to create a list of individuals who have violated no laws, but strictly because of the religion they practice.
CAIR issued an action alert opposing the amendment calling on Congress to “VOTE NO.” CAIR also wrote a letter to the House Armed Services Committee urging them to drop this biased amendment.
SEE: CAIR Action Alert: Tell Congress to ‘VOTE NO’ on Rep. Franks' Anti-Islam NDAA Amendment
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/14469-cair-action-alert-tell-congress-to-vote-no-on-rep-franks-anti-islam-ndaa-amendment.html
CAIR Asks House Committee to Drop ‘Biased’ Amendment Seeking Assessments of ‘Violent or Unorthodox Islamic Religious Doctrine’
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/14465-cair-asks-house-committee-to-drop-biased-amendment-seeking-assessments-of-violent-or-unorthodox-islamic-religious-doctrine.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 Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com
Thankful Congress Voted Against Stigmatizing 'Strategic Assessments' of Islamic Doctrine
Thank Congress for Voting Against Stigmatizing 'Strategic Assessments' of Islamic Doctrine
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/17/17) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, is calling on all Americans to thank members of the U.S. House of Representatives for the bi-partisan defeat of Congressman Trent Franks' (R-AZ) stigmatizing 'Strategic Assessments' of Islamic doctrine Amendment number 13 to H.R. 2810, to the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act.
TAKE ACTION HERE - THANK YOUR ELECTED HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE TODAY
Congressional opposition to the amendment was led by Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee Adam Smith (D-WA).
Last Thursday, the amendment was debated on the House floor with Rep. Franks in support and Representatives Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), and Jamie Raskin (D-MD) opposing.
SEE: Video: Rep. Keith Ellison Speaks Out Against Rep. Franks' Anti-Islam NDAA Amendment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyULm6AFevU
Last Friday, in a narrow vote of 208 “Yes” to 217 “No,” 27 Republicans and 190 Democrats voted against the amendment with no Democrats voting in support. The NDAA is an annual defense authorization act that provides valuable funding for the armed forces.
SEE: Final Vote Results for Rep. Franks’ Amendment Number 13
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2017/roll372.xml
Congress joined with Muslim and civil liberties opposing the amendment because it unfairly targeted one faith, Islam. Moreover, the amendment was counter to the fundamental American principle that the government should not have the authority to define what constitutes “unorthodox” religious practices, which could result in American Muslims being further targeted by bias.
The amendment also would have mandated identification of key Islamic leaders that practice any form of Islam. CAIR is urging member of the public to thank Congress for voicing opposition to this because it is inappropriate for the U.S. government to create a list of individuals who have violated no laws, but strictly because of the religion they practice.
CAIR issued an action alert opposing the amendment calling on Congress to “VOTE NO.” CAIR also wrote a letter to the House Armed Services Committee urging them to drop this biased amendment.
SEE: CAIR Action Alert: Tell Congress to ‘VOTE NO’ on Rep. Franks' Anti-Islam NDAA Amendment
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/14469-cair-action-alert-tell-congress-to-vote-no-on-rep-franks-anti-islam-ndaa-amendment.html
CAIR Asks House Committee to Drop ‘Biased’ Amendment Seeking Assessments of ‘Violent or Unorthodox Islamic Religious Doctrine’
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/14465-cair-asks-house-committee-to-drop-biased-amendment-seeking-assessments-of-violent-or-unorthodox-islamic-religious-doctrine.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 Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com