AIFD supports Governor Sam Brownback

Friday, July 2018

AIFD applauds the appointment of Governor Sam Brownback to US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom

Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, President of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy (AIFD) applauds the appointment of Governor Sam Brownback of Kansas to US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom.

Dr. Jasser told Newsweek today, “Governor Brownback understands how nations which protect religious freedom first will advance human rights and democracy, and those who do not will see their nations deteriorate on all levels of security and human rights.”

Dr. Jasser further commented that “Governor Brownback’s 16 years of experience in Congress and as Governor demonstrates a tireless advocacy for religious liberty that he will carry on to all levels of our government in helping shape a foreign policy which places religious freedom front and center. We urge the senate to quickly approve Governor Brownback’s appointment”.

It should not surprise anyone that American Islamist groups, like the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), have come out in opposition to Governor Brownback’s appointment much like they even opposed the appointment of leading American Muslim Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, AIFD President, to the USCIRF (US Commission on International Religious Freedom) in 2012 where he served 2 terms till 2016. As many will recall, CAIR and other Islamist groups like MPAC, also quoted by Newsweek today, similarly executed a national smear campaign against Dr. Jasser. Yet, Dr. Jasser completed his service to USCRIF with nary a complaint from any American Muslim group on any position regarding religious freedom he advocated for on the commission.

Make no mistake. Their protestations of Islamists groups are not at all about substantive differences in what should be a non-partisan mission of promoting religious freedom abroad. Their protests of Islamist groups are simply about using the false cloak of so-called “Islamophobia” in order to protect and lobby for the theocratic regimes of the OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) led by Saudi Arabia. It should be noted that AIFD also supported Governor Brownback’s predecessor, Rabbi’s David Saperstein’s, appointment by the Obama administration.

CAIR and their Islamist lobby will stop at no lengths in order to smear opponents of the regimes for whom they apologize in order for the West to turn a blind eye towards the religious freedom violations of Muslim majority nations like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Qatar, and Turkey to name a few in the OIC.

There is no evidence at all that Govenor Brownback would not defend the rights of all people to practice their faith freely and tirelessly advance the principles of religious freedom. In fact, as AIFD stated in support of the American Laws for American Courts bill in Kansas in 2012 which CAIR falsely attributed as anti-Islam:

“Muslim Brotherhood legacy groups such as the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) and other Islamist surrogates in the U.S. are trying their best to portray the Kansas legislation as “racist” and “discrimination against Muslims,” but at AIFD we denounce this as fear-mongering and yet another attempt to mask the Islamists’ highly politicized agenda. AIFD is based on our strong commitment to the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause and the separation between religion and state. Unfortunately, Islamist groups would like to compromise this separation and provide cover to medieval, misogynistic and homophobic laws that no Muslim is obligated to demand as public law. “The Kansas American Laws for American Courts bill is good for Muslims in Kansas,” said Jasser. “I urge the Governor to sign this legislation and protect the sanctity of American and Kansas courts and legal system.”

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