Mike Pompeo for Secretary of State Angers Muslims

Previous Comments Have Created A Rift with American Islamic Community

Members of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on Tuesday scrutinized the nomination of Mike Pompeo for secretary of state. CAIR is the largest Muslim rights and advocates group in the nation. The secretary of state plays the role of chief diplomat, responsible for guiding foreign policy for the USA. The Muslim group opposes both the nominations of Pompeo as the secretary of state and Gina Haspel as CIA Director.

Mike Pompeo for Secretary of State Angers Muslims[/tweetthis]

Pompeo and Haspel were named to these positions by US President Donald Trump and are now awaiting confirmation by the Senate. CAIR expressed their criticism of Pompeo, pointing out that his remarks following the Boston Marathon bombings bear anti-Muslim views.

Pompeo has on a number of occasions made Islamophobic statements and actions. Two weeks after the Boston Marathon attacks in 2013, Pompeo made a false allegation that American Muslim leaders were “potentially complicit” in the bombings because they failed to speak out. This implication was made despite the American Muslim community and its leaders consistently and vehemently condemning terror and religious extremist acts. When he made these allegations, CAIR called upon him to rectify his “false and irresponsible” attack on the American Muslim leaders.

CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said people like Pompeo, who have been associated with an anti-Muslim hate group and have made Islamophobic comments, and Haspel, who supervised the torture of detainees, should not be given positions of leadership in the nation’s government, especially at the highest levels of policymaking. CAIR also uttered its worry about a “troubling Islamophobic trend” following the nomination and appointment of Pompeo as CIA Director by President Trump.

CAIR stands to protect the rights of American Muslims and members of other minority groups in the country. This organization yet again objects Mike Pompeo’s nomination in the hope of shedding light on his recurrent attacks on the Islamic community.

Resources

• NBC
• The Atlantic
• New York Magazine
• CAIR

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