(OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, 5/01/2014) – The Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OK) today called on Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) to clarify comments on Islam he made on the floor of the U.S. Senate yesterday.
In those remarks, Inhofe appeared to claim that Islam infringes on America’s Judeo-Christian values and that George Washington made it clear that the Christian God was responsible for the creation of the United States.
SEE: James Inhofe Opines on How Obama ‘Suppresses Our Judeo-Christian Values’
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/30/james-inhofe-obama_n_5241400.html
Inhofe Says Oklahomans Believe Obama Promotes Islam
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/religion/inhofe-says-oklahomans-believe-obama-promotes-islam/article_cd1d9e56-d0ab-11e3-aa02-001a4bcf6878.html
In a letter sent to Inhofe today, CAIR-OK Executive Director Adam Soltani wrote in part:
“We are writing to address your April 30, 2014, remarks on the Senate floor that seem to indicate that you believe Islam does not support Judeo-Christian values. We are seeking clarification of your remarks and their implications for American Muslims, particularly the growing Oklahoma Muslim population. Islam is a part of the rich Abrahamic tradition and does not in any way suppress Judeo-Christian values in our country. Furthermore, we do not believe your views represent the views of most Oklahomans.
“As an elected official, you represent all the diverse peoples of Oklahoma, which includes adherents of the Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. In recent years we have seen growth in cooperation among Abrahamic faiths in our state and country, and we fear that your remarks set us back as we seek to increase cooperation between faiths.
“Your remarks regarding our nation’s founding are also troubling, as our nation was founded on the understanding that America would be home to those of various religious backgrounds. Professor Denise Spellberg writes in her recently published book that our founding fathers intentionally included the concept of religious pluralism when planning for our country’s future: ‘It strikes me that [Thomas] Jefferson was theorizing for a future that included Muslims – not in spite of their religion, but because of it and because of his notion of universal civil rights.'”
CAIR-OK is a chapter of 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-OK Executive Director Adam Soltani, 405-248-5853, asoltani@cair.com; CAIR-OK Board Chair Saad Mohammed, 405-210-4775, smohammed@cair.com