CAIR: 'Marginalize Extremists of All Backgrounds' Who 'Widen Societal Divisions'

The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the terrorist attack in Paris today, arguing that “extremists of all backgrounds” should be “marginalized” in the wake of the murders at Charlie Hebdo magazine.

“We strongly condemn this brutal and cowardly attack and reiterate our repudiation of any such assault on freedom of speech, even speech that mocks faiths and religious figures,” CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said in a statement.

“The proper response to such attacks on the freedoms we hold dear is not to vilify any faith, but instead to marginalize extremists of all backgrounds who seek to stifle freedom and to create or widen societal divisions,” Awad said.

“We offer sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of those killed or injured in this attack. We also call for the swift apprehension of the perpetrators, who should be punished to the full extent of the law.”

The Muslim Council of Britain issued a much shorter statement: “The Muslim Council of Britain condemns this attack. Whomever the attackers are, and whatever the cause may be, nothing justifies the taking of life.”

The Muslim American Society, which was placed on the United Arab Emirates’ terror list in November along with CAIR, didn’t issue comment.

The U.S.-based Muslim Public Affairs Council condemned the attack and offered condolences in a series of tweets.

“We offer our condolences to the families of the victims & stand with all people of conscience,” MPAC president Salam Al-Marayati said.

From the 12 victims, MPAC singled out Ahmed Merabet, a 42-year-old French Muslim police officer killed by the terrorists.

They also praised former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean for saying that the attackers shouldn’t be called “Muslim terrorists.”

Thank you @GovHowardDean for your strong statement! We must continue to proclaim that violence has no religion. #ParisShooting

— MPAC (@mpac_national) January 7, 2015

“I stopped calling these people Muslim terrorists. They’re about as Muslim as I am.” –@GovHowardDean #ParisShooting #CharlieHebdo

— MPAC (@mpac_national) January 7, 2015

“They (terrorists) have no respect for anybody else’s life. That’s not what the Quran says.” –@GovHowardDean #ParisShooting #CharlieHebdo

— MPAC (@mpac_national) January 7, 2015

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Related, for more on CAIR: The Hypocrisy of Ibrahim Hooper and CAIR’s ‘Islamophobic List’, and #MyJihad: CAIR’s New Twitter Campaign to Whitewash Islam, and Why Is the Pentagon Listening to Hamas-Linked CAIR?