CAIR LogoThe Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is alarmed by what it perceives as growing anti-Muslim sentiment in Minnesota. Prompted by news of racist fliers being posted in St. Cloud and the candidacy of Lynne Torgerson against Rep. Keith Ellison, the group called for religious leaders to repudiate anti-Muslim acts.

In a press release Thursday, CAIR quoted from a Minnesota Independent profile of independent candidate Torgerson, noting that her web site says Islam “is not ‘religion’ recognizable under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.” (She actually states that one “portion” of Islam, a line in the Quran about “slay[ing] the idolaters wherever you find them,” shouldn’t be protected by the Constitution. But because of that one line, she concludes that “the total ‘religion’ of Islam is not fully protectable by our First Amendment to the Unites States Constitution.”) She told MnIndy’s Chris Steller, “I don’t want other cultures coming into the United States and chilling our freedoms.”

The Muslim civil liberties group also cited reports that fliers showing the prophet Mohammed, along with swastikas, appeared on utility poles in St. Cloud.

“We believe there is a direct correlation between anti-Muslim rhetoric and bias incidents targeting American Muslims,” said CAIR-MN Communications Director Jessica Zikri. “Our state’s political and religious leaders need to speak out strongly against anti-Muslim hate, just as they would speak out against any other form of intolerance.”

CAIR’s Minnesota chapter is working with Muslim leaders in St. Cloud to offer training on community safety and religious freedom.