(WASHINGTON D.C., 9/3/08) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today called on John McCain and Sarah Palin to ‘avoid divisive Islamophobic rhetoric’ and instead offer ‘inclusive’ addresses at this week’s GOP convention in Minnesota.

The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said Sen. McCain and his supporters have in the past used rhetoric that many American Muslims believe serves to marginalize religious minorities, particularly Muslims.

Just today at the Republican National Convention, former House majority leader Dick Armey said Barack Obama's "funny name" could "give people concerns that he could be or have been too much influenced by Muslims, which is a great threat now."

In a recent campaign speech, Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) said McCain would make decisions based on “Judeo-Christian values.” Last fall, McCain stated that America was “founded primarily on Christian principles” and that he would not be comfortable with a Muslim in the White House. [McCain later said: "I would vote for a Muslim if he or she was the candidate best able to lead the country and defend our political values."]

In his speeches, McCain often refers to “radical Islam,” “Islamic terrorism" or “Islamic extremism," rhetoric that has been questioned by mainstream American Muslim groups, the National Counterterrorism Center and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Earlier this year, a McCain surrogate in Florida defended the Iraq war by saying, "the Muslims have said either we kneel, or they're going to kill us.” The McCain campaign responded by stating: "The threat we face is from radical Islamic extremism."

McCain also distanced himself from two Christian leaders who made prejudiced comments about Muslims and other religious minorities.

In a statement, CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad said:

“We urge Senator McCain and Governor Palin to offer inclusive speeches at this week’s Republican convention and ask that they both avoid divisive Islamophobic rhetoric. It is all too easy to use hot-button terms to garner votes, but true leaders do not exploit fear or stereotypes for political gain. We hope to hear Senator McCain and Governor Palin say they will defend the civil and religious rights of all Americans, work with the American Muslim community in making our nation both free and secure and help build better relations with the Islamic world.”

He suggested that McCain and Palin reflect the Republican Party Platform, which states: “The struggle in which we are engaged is ideological, not ethnic or religious. The extremists we face are abusers of faith, not its champions. We appreciate the loyalty of all Americans whose family roots lie in the Middle East, and we gratefully acknowledge the contributions of American Arabs and Muslims, especially those in the Armed Forces and the intelligence community.”

Awad added that Muslims have called on candidates of all political parties to reject Islamophobia and believe using phrases such as "Islamic terrorism” may unintentionally provide religious legitimacy to terrorists.

RNC Speakers Invoke Misleading Links Between Religion and Terrorism

RNC SPEECHES INVOKE MISLEADING LINKS BETWEEN RELIGION & VIOLENCE

(Washington, DC - 9/4/08) -- The Muslim Public Affairs Council expressed disapproval today over repeated comments made at the Republican National Convention last night by former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani.

"For four days in Denver, the Democrats were afraid to use the words 'Islamic terrorism,'" Guiliani said. "I imagine they believe it is politically incorrect to say it. I think they believe it will insult someone. Please, tell me, who are they insulting, if they say 'Islamic terrorism?' They are insulting terrorists." 

"Is a Supreme Court liberal or conservative that awards Guantanamo terrorists with constitution rights?" Romney said. "John McCain hit the nail on the head: radical violent Islam is evil, and he will defeat it!"

Romney and Giuliani's remarks on Islam served to equate Islam with terrorism. Making false statements only serves to increase the already high rates of violence and bigotry against Muslim Americans.  Our nation faces a very real threat, but bolstering the credibility of would-be terrorists by associating them with any religion is counterproductive to our national security interests.

Riding the ebbing wave of post-9/11 fear mongering in an election season is nothing new. But our presidential candidates must ask themselves whether playing off the ignorance of a few voters worth jeopardizing the American values of pluralism and constitutional democracy?

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