The Washington Times

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
March 31, 2006

CAIR defends itself

In his commentary ("Cancer in its midst", Op-Ed,
yesterday), M. Zuhdi Jasser states that he hopes and
prays "for some counter-movement within my faith which
will push back all this darkness" of terrorism, in
apparent blissful ignorance of the fact that American
Muslim groups have consistently and repeatedly
condemned terrorism in all its forms.

It is particularly ironic that he believes this
"counter-movement" will start with "what is most basic
- the common truth that binds all religions: 'Do unto
others, as you would have them do onto you.' The
Golden Rule."

Just the day before publication of Mr. Jasser's
commentary, the headline item on the Council on
American-Islamic Relation's daily e-mail, distributed
throughout North America and the Muslim world, was
headlined "The Golden Rule."

It offered several hadiths, or traditions of the prophet

Muhammad, such as:

"Whoever wishes to (enter Paradise) ... should
treat people as he wishes to be treated by them."

Mr. Jasser also smears CAIR for "doing absolutely
nothing about the most vile hate-speak and actions
toward Jews and Christians in the Muslim world."

Perhaps he missed CAIR's: 1) condemnations of
attacks on Christians in Yemen and Pakistan, 2)
statements against suicide bombings in places such as
Haifa and Jerusalem, 3) coordination of an Islamic
religious ruling (fatwa) against terror and religious
extremism, 4) distribution of public service
announcements condemning terrorism, 5) online
promotion of the "Not in the Name of Islam" petition
drive, or 6) CAIR's recent condemnation of a plan by
an Iranian newspaper to solicit cartoons denying the
Nazi Holocaust.

In that condemnation, CAIR said: "The Holocaust,
like all other acts of genocide, represents one of the
lowest moments in human history and should not be the
subject of derogatory cartoons. One cannot demand
responsible behavior from others while at the same
time acting irresponsibly."

Maybe he also missed CAIR's proactive educational
campaigns designed to offer peaceful alternatives to
violent responses prompted by recent controversies
over allegations of Quran desecration in Guantanamo
and the publication of offensive cartoons by a Danish
newspaper.

Mr. Jasser should visit www.cair.com/Muhammad and
www.explorethequran.org to educate himself about the
reality of the American Muslim community's true
response to violent events.

Mr. Jasser should practice what he preaches. The
Web site for his own group is long on talk and short
on the kind of positive actions and initiatives taken
by CAIR.

IBRAHIM HOOPER
National Communications Director
Council on American-Islamic Relations
Washington