(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/16/14) — The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned the “barbaric murder” of U.S. aid worker Peter Kassig by the Syria-based ISIS terrorist group.

In a statement, CAIR said:

“Just as we have denounced previous killings of innocent civilians by the ISIS terrorist group, we condemn the barbaric murder of Peter Kassig and once again repudiate the anti-Islamic ideology that produces such brutality. We also offer our sincere condolences to Mr. Kassig’s family and loved ones.”

CAIR recently joined a number of national and local Muslim scholars and leaders in Washington, D.C., to release a first-of-its-kind open letter signed by more than 120 international scholars of Islam and Muslim leaders refuting the ideology of the terrorist group ISIS and urging its supporters to repent and “return to the religion of mercy.”

CAIR: U.S., World Muslim Leaders’ Open Letter Refutes ISIS’s Ideology, Urges Supporters to ‘Repent,’ ‘Return to the Religion of Mercy’
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/12663-muslim-leaders-open-letter-refutes-isis-ideology.html

Along with joining that international initiative, CAIR and its many chapters nationwide have repeatedly condemned and rallied against the “un-Islamic and morally repugnant” violence and religious extremism of ISIS.

SEE: CAIR: ISIS Is Not Just Un-Islamic, It Is Anti-Islamic (TIME)
http://time.com/3273873/stop-isis-islam/
CAIR: Two Elements are Crucial to Ridding the World of ISIS
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Commentary/2014/Nov-15/277700-two-elements-are-crucial-to-ridding-the-world-of-isis.ashx
CAIR Condemns Killing of Journalist Steven Sotloff by ‘Anti-Islamic’ Terror Group ISIS
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/12637-cair-condemns-killing-of-journalist-steven-sotloff-by-terrorist-isis.html
CAIR Condemns Barbaric Killing of U.S. Journalist by Terror Group ISIS
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/12622-cair-condemns-barbaric-killing-of-american-journalist-james-foley-by-terrorist-group-isis.html
CAIR Condemns ISIS Violence and Rejects Calls to Join Extremists Fighting Abroad
http://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/12551-cair-condemns-isis-violence-and-rejects-calls-to-join-extremists-fighting-abroad.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.

– END –

CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Manager Amina Rubin, 202-341-4171, arubin@cair.com