CAIR to Call on Ben Carson to Withdraw from Presidential Race Over Anti-Islam Comments

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/20/15) – On Monday, September 21, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, will hold a news conference at its Capitol Hill headquarters to call on Republican candidate Ben Carson to withdraw from the presidential race for saying today that Islam is “inconsistent” with the Constitution and that a Muslim should not be elected president.

CAIR: GOP Presidential Candidate Ben Carson Says Muslim Shouldn’t Be Elected President (VIDEO)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4ts2SMTJhI  

GOP candidate Carson: Islam Inconsistent with Constitution; a Muslim Shouldn't Be President (AP)

http://www.startribune.com/gop-candidate-carson-muslims-shouldn-t-be-elected-president/328412661/

WHAT: CAIR News Conference to Call for Withdrawal of Ben Carson from Presidential Race
WHEN: Monday, September 21, 11 a.m.
WHERE: CAIR Capitol Hill Headquarters, 453 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC
CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com

“Mr. Carson clearly does not understand or care about the Constitution, which clearly states that ‘no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office,’” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. “We call on our nation’s political leaders – across the political spectrum - to repudiate these unconstitutional and un-American statements and for Mr. Carson to withdraw from the presidential race.”

He said this incident demonstrates why the Constitution is needed to protect Americans of all faiths.

Awad noted that in 2011, Herman Cain said he would not appoint a Muslim to his cabinet or as a federal judge if elected president.

SEE: CAIR Slaps Herman Cain Over Sharia Law Comments (Politico)

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/52119.html

Last week, CAIR called on Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump to clarify what he meant when stating that he was “going to be looking at that” to a question about the Muslim “problem in this country” and “When can we get rid of them?”

SEE: CAIR Calls on Donald Trump to Clarify 'Looking At' Getting Rid of Muslims

http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/13158-cair-calls-on-donald-trump-to-clarify-looking-at-getting-rid-of-muslims.html

Other GOP presidential candidates have made Islamophobic comments or have been associated with Islamophobes.

SEE: Islamophobia in the 2016 Presidential Election

http://www.islamophobia.org/15-reports/164-islamophobia-in-the-2016-presidential-election.html  

In January, CAIR issued an open letter to potential Republican presidential candidates urging them to reject Islamophobia and to reach out to American Muslim voters.

CAIR's appeal came in the wake of a controversy over remarks by presidential hopeful Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana who was criticized for promoting the false claim that there are Muslim "no-go zones" in European cities.

SEE: CAIR Letter Urges GOP Presidential Candidates to Engage Muslim Voters, Reject Islamophobia

http://tinyurl.com/ofa7f5a    

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.

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CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Nabeelah Naeem, 202-341-4171 nnaeem@cair.com