CAIR-LA Thanks Rep. Sanchez for Stand on Constitutional Rights
Anaheim , CA : The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) has thanked Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) for her strong stand when she questioned key homeland security officials at a Committee on Homeland Security hearing on current and emerging terror threats facing the US.
SEE: Rep. Loretta Sanchez Questions Key Homeland Security Officials
In a statement following the hearing, Rep. Sanchez said:
"I have the honor of representing one of the largest Arab American communities in the United States and have been very concerned in recent months by the FBI's recent probes into our local American Muslim community and its practice of planting informants in community centers and mosques...Director Michael Leiter of the National Counterterrorism Center assured me that actions have been taken so that law enforcement officials do not intimidate a place of worship and that enforcement agencies do not conduct any investigation that is unwarranted."
SEE: Muslim 'Radicalization' Hearings are Wrong and Misguided (HuffPost)
In a statement, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said:
"We thank Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez for her principled stand in voicing concern about a larger trend to marginalize and treat the American Muslim community as suspect. Engagement is a two-way street, and American Muslims have had an impeccable record of collaborating with law enforcement agencies. Other lawmakers, including Rep. Peter King, should take the Congresswoman's lead in working toward the goals of inclusivity and safety of all Americans, with the understanding that national security does not have to be at the expense of civil rights."
To strengthen cooperation, Muslims in Southern California over the years have established various partnerships such as the Muslim American Homeland Security Congress (MAHSC), a collaborative effort to ensure effective public dialogue between American Muslim organizations and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
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.
