The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said that an Oklahoma survival equipment store has joined the growing number of businesses nationwide that have declared themselves "Muslim-free."
CAIR also questioned why, despite repeated requests for action, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has remained silent on the "clearly illegal" religious ban, which the Washington-based group compared to "whites only" businesses excluding African-Americans prior to the Civil Rights Movement.
The Save Yourself Survival and Tactical Gear store in Oktaha, Okla., has a sign in its window stating it is a "Muslim free establishment." The sign also states, "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone," which is the same language used by businesses that refused to serve African-American customers in the 1950s.
SEE: 'Muslim-Free' Sign at Save Yourself Survival and Tactical Gear
http://www.cair.com/images/press_releases/muslimfree.jpg
"It is sad to see an Oklahoma business join the clearly illegal movement to deny service to American Muslims, and it is equally sad to note the silence of our government on this denial of religious freedom and equal access to public accommodations," said Veronica Laziure, civil rights director of CAIR's Oklahoma chapter. "As a nation, we rightfully moved past 'whites only' businesses, but our national leaders seem unwilling to challenge 'Muslim-free' public facilities."
"We ask Americans who support constitutional rights to contact the businesses that announce these segregationist policies and urge their owners to follow the law by serving customers of all faiths and background," said CAIR-Oklahoma Executive Director Adam Soltani.
Brady Henderson, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma (ACLUOK), said: "If the ideas of public segregation and second-class citizenship belong anywhere, they belong in the past. Whether a business's policy is 'no coloreds' or 'no Muslims,' it is making the same choice to put hate and ignorance ahead of traditional American values like freedom and equality. It is important that we as citizens speak out against the growing movement to resurrect Jim Crow."
Businesses in New York, Kentucky, Florida, Arkansas and New Hampshire have already been declared "Muslim-free zones."
CAIR recently called on the U.S. Department of Justice to address the "illegal and un-American phenomenon."
SEE: CAIR Asks DOJ to Address Spread of 'Muslim-Free Zone' Business Declarations
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/13100-cair-asks-doj-to-address-spread-of-muslim-free-zone-business-declarations.html
Earlier this year, CAIR did receive a letter from the DOJ announcing a decision to "monitor" a Hot Springs, Ark., shooting range that has been declared a "Muslim-free zone" by its owner. No further action has been reported.
SEE: CAIR Welcomes DOJ Decision to 'Monitor' Arkansas Shooting Range Declared 'Muslim-Free Zone' by Owner
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/12944-doj-to-monitor-arkansas-shooting-range-declared-muslim-free-zone-by-owner.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.
CONTACT: CAIR-OK Civil Rights Director Veronica Laziure, 405-430-9877, vlaizure@cair.com; CAIR-OK Executive Director Adam Soltani, 405-248-5853, asoltani@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Nabeelah Naeem, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, nnaeem@cair.com
SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --
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CAIR: 82 Groups Ask DOJ to Address Illegality of 'Muslim-Free Zone' Businesses
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, announced today that a coalition of 82 civil liberties, human rights, immigrant rights, faith, and cultural organizations (see list of signatories below) sent a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch asking her to investigate the growing phenomena of so-called "Muslim-free zone" businesses nationwide.
SEE: Group Letter Requesting DOJ to Investigate "Muslim-Free Zone" Bans by Public Accommodations
http://www.cair.com/images/pdf/MuslimFreeZoneLetter.pdf
Video: 82 Groups Ask DOJ to Address Illegality of 'Muslim-Free Zone' Businesses
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH4QgQc390k
[MEDIA ADVISORY: At 2 p.m. today, there will be a media availability at CAIR's Capitol Hill headquarters to discuss the release of the coalition's letter, 453 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Manager Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com]
The coalition, which includes prominent national organizations such as the ACLU, NAACP and the YWCA USA, requested that the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division's Housing and Civil Enforcement Section conduct a full federal investigation into all businesses that have declared themselves as "Muslim-Free Zones" and "bring civil enforcement proceedings against business owners who have violated the law."
"The broad range of groups calling for government action on the 'Muslim-free zone' issue clearly indicates that the U.S. Department of Justice should speak out and take concrete action to protect the constitutional rights of American Muslims," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad.
Businesses in Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, New York, Oklahoma, and New Hampshire have publicly declared themselves "Muslim-Free." Despite these reports, the DOJ has remained silent, with the exception of a pledge to "monitor" the Arkansas "Muslim-free zone" business.
The coalition requested a meeting with the DOJ to further discuss "the civil rights impact of these bans and how we can best engage with the DOJ to address current and future discriminatory exclusions by public accommodations."
CAIR recently questioned why, despite repeated requests for action, the DOJ has remained silent on the "clearly illegal" religious ban, which the Washington-based group compared to "whites only" businesses excluding African-Americans prior to the Civil Rights Movement.
SEE: CAIR Questions Feds' Silence After Oklahoma Business Joins 'Muslim-Free' Movement
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/13113-cair-question...
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.
CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Nabeelah Naeem, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, nnaeem@cair.com
* Signatories
National Organizations
State Organizations
SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
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