Weekly Terrorism Spotlight

Volume 1, Issue 2 (March 24)

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

CAIR lauds second Muslim congressman

After a special election victory, the Council on American-Islamic Relations lauded Muslim congressman Andre Carson (D-Indiana).

The Council on American-Islamic Relations lauded, “the growing positive role of American Muslims in our society,” as Muslim Democrat Andre Carson won his bid for U.S. Congress.

Carson won a special election to the 7th District seat earlier this month that had been vacated by his grandmother, Julia Carson, at the time of her death late last year after 11 years in the House.

Andre Carson had been a member of the Indianapolis City Council, and had converted to Islam about a decade ago. He now serves the remainder of the elder Carson’s term through the year, and faces the general re-election process set for a vote in November.

Andre Carson is already facing stiff competition for the Democratic nomination for the November election, with a May primary planed to determine who will run as the Democratic nominee.

“We offer congratulations to Representative Carson, whose election demonstrates the strength of our political system and the growing positive role of American Muslims in our society,” CAIR Legislative Director Corey Saylor said.

Saylor added the election tops off a banner year for Muslims in 2007-08, as March alone saw nearly 100 Capitol Hill meetings with U.S. Representatives and congressional staffers focused on issues of concern to Islamic Muslims from across America.

Saylor noted pro-Islamic issues included racial profiling, citizenship delays for Islamic immigrants and foreign policy support for Israel.

The first Muslim elected to Congress is Rep. Keith Ellison, (D-MN) who sparked controversy in 2006 by demanding to be sworn in using the Islamic Qur’an instead of a scriptural Bible.

Andre Carson’s opponents for Democratic nomination in the dominantly Democratic district include state legislators Carolene Mays and David Orentlicher.

Andre Carson’s election was narrowly won with a 52-percent margin over Republican candidate Jon Elrod, who received nearly 45 percent of the vote despite an independent candidate also in the race.

CAIR identified 15 Muslim candidates for public office across America, including a possible third U.S. congressman, Sam Rasoul, a Democratic challenger running a tough race for Democratic nomination in Virginia, District 6.

Rasoul joins Ellision and Carson, up for re-election, as the top three Muslim-candidate campaigns across America.

Eight Muslim incumbent state reps are up: Rodney Hubbard, Jamilah Nasheed and Talibdin El-Amin, Missouri; Saqib Ali, Maryland; Ako Abdul-Samad, Iowa; Yusuf Salaam, Alabama; Saghir “saggy” Tahir, New Hampshire and Ferial Masry in California.

Lesser races include Farheen Khan, state house challenger, Wisconsin, and local council hopefuls: Mohammed Hameeduddin, Teaneck, New Jersey; Bill Dalati, Anaheim, California and Rifat ‘James’ Sivisoglu, DuPage, Ilinois.