CAIR Applauds Denial of Visa to Narendra Modi; U.S. Cites Indian Official's Role in Gujarat Massacre.
WASHINGTON, March 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is an advocacy group for Muslims in North America; its professed goals are to "enhanc[e] understanding of Islam, promot[e] justice and empower American Muslims. ( a decision by the
United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. to deny a visa to an Indian official accused of complicity in the massacre of Muslim civilians.
CAIR said U.S. officials cited the role of Minister of the Indian state of Gujarat, in 2002 anti-Muslim riots that left more than 1000 dead. Modi was scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the annual convention of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) to be held later this month in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
In recent weeks, CAIR and other groups joined forces to block Modi's entry to the United States. CAIR urged the Bush administration to deny Modi a visa based on a section (Sec. 604) of the International Religious Freedom Act that makes any foreign official who has engaged in "particularly severe violations of religious freedom"
That which, according to established legal principles, cannot be received into evidence at a trial for consideration by the jury or judge in reaching a determination of the action. to the United States. Media reports indicate that U.S. officials used that provision to revoke his visa.
Earlier this week, CAIR called on American Express to withdraw its sponsorship from the Florida convention. CAIR also lobbied Congress to urge a denial of Modi's visa and CAIR offices in
New York, state, United States
New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of and Georgia hosted or planned events designed to heighten awareness of the issue.
SEE: "U.S. Muslims Seek to Block Entry of Gujarat Massacre Figure" http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1451&theType=NR
"Muslims Ask AmEx to Withdraw Sponsorship of FL Event" http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=1492&theType=NR
"This case demonstrates what can be accomplished when Muslim, human rights and minority groups work together for a common purpose," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. "We would like to thank those groups and the thousands of people worldwide who took action by contacting the State Department, the White House, Congress, and the media in defense of the victims of Gujarat."
CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. 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.
To read CAIR's Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to: http://www.cair-net.org/default.asp?Page=About
CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail: rahmed@cair-net.org
NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a journalist's window to the American Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called ISLAM-INFONET, receive news releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on issues of importance to our society.
