Fla. Jewish Group Commended for Condemning Hate Speech

Washington, DC: The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has commended the Florida office of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) for condemning the anti-Islam hate of a speaker who was recently given a standing ovation at a synagogue in that state.

Earlier last week, CAIR called on members of the Jewish community to condemn “Nazi-like” statements by Dutch extremist politician Geert Wilders made recently at a Palm Beach, Fla., synagogue. In the speech, Wilders claimed that “Islam is not a religion” and “the right to religious freedom should not apply to this totalitarian ideology called Islam,” all to the applause of the audience.

In a statement, ADL Florida Regional Director Andrew Rosenkranz said:

“The ADL strongly condemns Geert Wilders' message of hate against Islam as inflammatory, divisive and antithetical to American democratic ideals. This rhetoric is dangerous and incendiary, and wrongly focuses on Islam as a religion, as opposed to the very real threat of extremist, radical Islamists.”

“We commend the ADL for its repudiation of Geert Wilders’ Islamophobic views and ask all those who promoted his message of hate to recognize the negative impact such intolerance has on our society,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper.

Hooper also noted that CAIR last week called on GOP leaders to demand that Rep. Adam Hasner, the head of Florida’s House Republicans, step down from his leadership post for co-hosting an event at which Wilders made the same hate-filled remarks.

CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. 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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