The Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations is criticizing state Rep. John Bennett for a Facebook post saying people should be wary of those who say they are “Muslim American.”
“Be especially wary if you’re a Christian,” he said in the post, which links to a story about atrocities committed by the Islamic State group.
“The Quran clearly states that non Muslims should be killed,” he said in the post.
In a news release Wednesday, the Muslim advocacy council’s state chapter said Bennett’s statement about the Quran is false and called on Republican Party leaders to repudiate his remarks.
“Anti-Muslim bigotry and statements that promote misunderstanding and incite hatred toward a minority group have no place in the Oklahoma Republican Party. Individuals elected to represent the people of Oklahoma should be held accountable for such extremist, inaccurate and intolerant views,” Adam Soltani, the group’s executive director, said in a letter to Bennett.
“We are requesting that you denounce these anti-Muslim comments and issue an apology for said derogatory statements.”
Soltani said that Islam teaches that killing one person is like killing all of humanity.
Bennett, R-Sallisaw, said he is standing by his post. He said there are multiple verses in the Quran calling Muslims to war with nonbelievers. He also said the CAIR organization was an un-indicted co-conspirator in a terrorism trial.
He said the terrorist activities of the Islamic State group could reach the United States.
“We must shine a bright light on the role of the Muslim Brotherhood and its varied tentacles in the U.S.,” said Bennett, a U.S. Marine Corps reservist who has served in Iraq and Afghanistan. “These tentacles include un-indicted co-conspirators of the U.S. vs. Holyland Foundation trial like the Council on American-Islamic Relations here in Oklahoma. Our borders are wide open to drug and human traffickers. Terrorism could come to Oklahoma just as easily.”
Oklahoma Republican Party Chairman Dave Weston supported Bennett’s remarks.
“It seems as if their attack on his comments is disingenuous at best,” Weston said. “Here’s why. If we as Americans were ruled by Islam, then Christians and Jews like you and I could only keep practicing our faith if we paid a protection tax. But if you’re Christian or Jewish and don’t immediately convert to Islam, they imminently decapitate you. This is proven by ongoing observation around the world today.”
“If they’re legitimate in wanting to come to the table and have an honest discourse, they can prove that by acknowledging the Jewish Holocaust happened, they can publicly recognize the right of Israel to exist and they can denounce the killing of Muslim converts to Christianity and other religions around the world.”
Oklahoma House Speaker Jeff Hickman on Wednesday issued a statement regarding the issue.
“All members of the Oklahoma Legislature are duly elected by and accountable to their constituents, and are free to voice their own opinions. As Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, I have found that most Oklahomans welcome anyone who respects our laws, and embraces our state, our culture and our people,” Hickman said in his prepared statement.
Defending CAIR
In an interview Wednesday, Soltani said he found out about Bennett’s post when he went to Bennett’s Facebook page after a friend had told him that Bennett had spoken of Soltani by name on social media. Soltani said the lawmaker had complained that CAIR-OK had not repudiated the actions of the Islamic terrorist group ISIS.
Soltani said CAIR-OK has repeatedly condemned the violent actions of ISIS and posted information saying just that on its website, particularly after the beheading of American journalist James Foley. He said Bennett seemed to make his anti-Muslim comments in regards to ISIS but said it is important to note that ISIS is killing Muslims as well as non-Muslims.
He said he was not surprised about Bennett’s comments that the national CAIR organization was named as an un-indicted co-conspirator several years ago in the case mentioned by the lawmaker because this has been something that has been used to cast a negative light on the group for some time.
Soltani said CAIR has no ties to Hamas and other Islamic terrorist groups and no evidence was found to prove a link between the Muslim advocacy group and the terrorist groups.
“People can say it all day and all night long, but CAIR does not stand with Hamas or any terrorists. Our track record proves we are about peace,” he said. “The bottom line is un-indicted means un-indicted.”
Soltani said non-Muslims sometimes take verses in the Islamic holy book out of context. He said one verse in the Quran that is referenced most often in anti-Islam rhetoric is Chapter 47, Verse 3-4, which is to be read in context to the time period after the Muslims’ migration from Mecca to Medina. Soltani said in the verse, God gives the Muslim believers permission to defend themselves against their oppressors after a decade of persecution.
Soltani said there are verses in the Bible that talk about violence and conflict but they pertain to certain situations.
“They could be taken out of context. It’s all about how you want to frame it,” Soltani said.