CAIR-SD joins 280 Delegates to Lobby Congress on Historic First National Muslim Advocacy Day
(San Diego, C.A. 4/22/2015) Some 280 delegates from more than 20 states met with elected officials and congressional staffers last week, on Arpil 13th, during the historic first-ever National Muslim Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., sponsored by the US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), a coalition of leading national and local American Muslim organizations. Muslim delegates from a number of organizations visited 200 congressional offices, one third of the House of Representatives and almost half of the Senate.
Delegates from the state of California included 9 representative of the California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, who participated in about 40 congressional meetings with both, the House and Senate. Three of the representatives were from CAIR-San Diego Office.
Before heading to congressional offices, the Muslim delegates met in the Rayburn House Office Building to learn lobbying tips from political experts.
"It is very inspiring to see the Muslim community make such progress on the road of effective political engagement on a national level", said CAIR-SD's Executive Director Hanif Mohebi. This historic united advocacy day illustrates the effectiveness of the American Muslim community to unite and play a critical role in advocating on policies that positively impact our nation.
PHOTO: The California Delegation at Muslim Hill Day.
National Muslim Advocacy Day delegates are urging their elected representatives to support issues that address the domestic priorities of the American Muslim community, including:
· Calling on Congress to urge the U.S. Department of Justice to amend its racial profiling guidance for federal law enforcement by removing any existing
loopholes that continue to permit profiling in the name of national security, domestic surveillance and policing the border. Many of these programs have disproportionately targeted Latinos, Muslims and other minorities, and raise serious due process concerns.
· Congressional support of federal legislation that prohibits any federal, state, local and Indian tribal law enforcement agency from engaging in profiling
on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, national origin or religion.
· Support of federal legislation that addresses the problems our nation is facing with youth violence by strengthening after-school programs.
"This historic united advocacy day marks the coming of age for the American Muslim community on the national political scene", said Robert McCaw, chairman of the USCMO Advocacy Day Steering Committee. The education, equality and social justice agenda promoted by National Muslim Advocacy Day delegates is of benefit to all Americans, regardless of background. McCaw said National Muslim Advocacy Day exceeded all expectations in terms of nationwide participation by first-time Muslim delegates and of interaction with elected officials and congressional staff.
Founding members of USCMO:
American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA), Muslim American
Society (MAS), Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA), Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA), The Mosque Cares (Ministry of Imam W. Deen Mohammed).
SEE: US Council of Muslim Organizations
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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: Robert McCaw, USCMO Muslim Advocacy Day Steering Committee Chairman, 202-683-6557, advocacy@uscmo.org, Hanif
Mohebi, CAIR-SD Executive Director, 858-774-9991,
hmohebi@cair.com
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CAIR Calls No-Fly Policy Change a "Step in the Right Direction"
Government will now tell some travelers if they’re on the no-fly list after lawsuits challenging wrongful inclusion, abuse
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/20/15) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) last week called a policy change by the federal government that will allow some travelers to determine
if they are on the no-fly list “a step in the right direction.â€
The government filed notice of the new procedures in several pending lawsuits brought by Americans challenging their apparent inclusion on the list.
One of those lawsuits is Fikre v. Holder, which was filed in 2013 by CAIR and attorney Thomas H. Nelson on behalf of a Muslim former resident of Oregon who claims he was tortured
in the United Arab Emirates at the behest of the FBI and State Department.
SEE: Lawsuit Claims U.S. Muslim Tortured at Behest of FBI, State Dept.
http://www.cair.com/…/11920-lawsuit-claims-u-s-muslim-tortu…
The notice of the new procedures states, in part:
“Under the newly revised procedures, a U.S. person who purchases a ticket, is denied boarding at the airport, subsequently applies for redress through DHS TRIP about the denial
of boarding, and is on the No Fly List after a redress review, will now receive a letter providing his or her status on the No Fly List and the option to receive and/or submit additional information.â€
If the individual traveler chooses to pursue the matter, DHS “will provide a second, more detailed response. This second letter will identify the specific criterion under which
the individual has been placed on the No Fly List and will include an unclassified summary of information supporting the individual’s No Fly List status, to the extent feasible, consistent with the national security and law enforcement interests at stake.â€
SEE: Reversing Policy, Feds Will Now Confirm or Deny If Certain Individuals Are on 50,000-Person No-Fly List
http://www.alternet.org/…/reversing-policy-feds-will-now-co…
No Fly List: Govt Offers New Redress Procedures
http://fas.org/blogs/secrecy/2015/04/no-fly-redress/
CAIR, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, expressed concerns that the new policy does not provide wrongfully listed people meaningful notice and
hearing and that it includes loopholes that could allow the government to continue denying travelers the right to know why they are on the no-fly list.
“The new redress process is a step in the right direction in that now the government will explicitly confirm or deny whether or not someone is on the no-fly list,†said Javeria
Jamil, CAIR’s government watch list legal fellow. “Unfortunately, it is not a complete solution. Not only does it still fail to address the constitutional concerns that lawsuits have raised, it also allows the government to fall back into its old pattern of
not disclosing any relevant information under the guise of national security and protection of law enforcement. “
CAIR’s 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
