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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAIR: Fla. Muslim Asks FBI to Probe Harassment by Hate Group

(WASHINGTON, 4/8/2010) --

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today announced that the FBI has been asked to investigate allegations that a Florida-based hate group has been harassing members of that state's Muslim community.

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In a complaint filed today with the Orlando field office of the FBI, a Florida Muslim activist alleges harassment by members of the anti-Islam hate group ACT! for America and its Orlando Coordinator Alan Kornman. ACT! for America is based in Pensacola, Fla.

The complaint states in part:

"I am concerned for my family's safety as well as for my community's because of the actions and the threats of Alan Kornman and J. Mark Campbell. I was once threatened by Alan Kornman verbally; my family and I have been stalked and harassed by him and other individuals from his group...

"I urge the FBI to investigate Mr. Kornman and Mr. Campbell, to admonish them and to restrain them or any member of their group from being in the vicinity of any mosque or private gathering of any Muslim community members."

In the letter to the FBI, the Muslim community member offers to provide contact information for other Florida Muslims who have allegedly been harassed by representatives of ACT! for America and claims that Alan Kornman pretended to convert to Islam in order to join in prayers at a local mosque. [Kornman apparently confirmed that claim in a YouTube video.]

"Members of any faith community should be able to hold private religious gatherings without fear of harassment or intimidation," said CAIR-Tampa Executive Director Ramzy Kiliç.

Earlier this week, CAIR urged GOP leaders to insist that Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC) withdraw her support for ACT! for America after one of its Florida representatives was exposed bragging in a YouTube video that he desecrated the Quran, Islam's revealed text, and urinates in the washing stations Muslims use to perform their ritual ablutions (wudu) for prayer.

The YouTube video shows an ACT! for America representative at an information table set up by the group on the University of Central Florida (UCF) campus stating: "Their foot baths, I love pissing in them...The Quran makes worthless toilet paper. It just kind of scratches my a** a little bit...To me, I like desecrating their [Muslims'] holy stuff."

The FBI complaint quotes UCF campus groups that have denounced ACT! for America's hate-filled rhetoric.

College Democrats at UCF Vice President Jay Shannon said: "Respect, dignity and honesty are just a few of the ideals the democratic process requires. ACT for America merits none of those qualities. Targeting groups through misinformation, with only negative intentions violates every decent sanctity the United States holds dear..."

Evan Mateer, outreach director for the College Republicans at UCF said: "It is important that we are honest about the causes of terrorism and motivations of our enemies. However, it is vital that this is done in a respectful way. ACT for America fails this test, peddling only hate and stirring anger."

ACT! for America leader Brigitte Gabriel claims an American Muslim "cannot be a loyal citizen" and that Islam is the "real enemy." She once told the Australian Jewish News: "Every practicing Muslim is a radical Muslim." She also claimed that "Islamo-fascism is a politically-correct word...it's the vehicle for Islam...Islam is the problem."

When asked whether Americans should "resist Muslims who want to seek political office in this nation," Gabriel said: "Absolutely. If a Muslim who has -- who is -- a practicing Muslim who believes the word of the Koran to be the word of Allah, who abides by Islam, who goes to mosque and prays every Friday, who prays five times a day -- this practicing Muslim, who believes in the teachings of the Koran, cannot be a loyal citizen to the United States of America."

Gabriel stated: "America and the West are doomed to failure in this war unless they stand up and identify the real enemy: Islam."

SEE: Islam's March Against the West

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR-Tampa Executive Director Ramzy Kiliç, 813-486-2529, E-Mail: rkilic@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787 or 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com