(ATLANTA, GA, 8/23/16) – The Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-GA) held a joint press conference on Tuesday, Aug. 23rd, at Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam to announce new developments surrounding the blocked Newton County mosque project.
Watch full video of the press conference here:
CAIR-GA, the ACLU of Georgia, the Georgia NAACP, Project South, the Council of Mosques of Metropolitan-Atlanta, and others have united to oppose Newton County’s unconstitutional moratorium that “temporarily” blocked the mosque, despite local law permitting such faith-based projects to move forward.
Last week, CAIR-GA called on the Department of Justice to review Newton County’s decision to pass a moratorium blocking the mosque. Public comments leading up to the moratorium by opponents of the proposal, including a county commissioner, expressed anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant sentiments. Hundreds of people expressed similar views at a public town hall in Newton County on Monday, Aug. 22nd.
More than 30 local religious, political and civil organizations, including the Georgia NAACP and the ACLU of Georgia, have united in support of CAIR-GA’s call for a DOJ probe.
SEE: Georgia NAACP, Project South, Almost 20 Muslim Organizations Join CAIR-GA’s Call for DOJ Probe of Newton County
“We thank the office of the U.S. attorney for agreeing to review our request regarding the situation in Newton County,” said Edward Ahmed Mitchell, executive director of CAIR-GA. “However, we remain hopeful that Newton County’s commissioners will reverse course and uphold religious freedom without the need for outside legal intervention.”
NEWS CONFERENCE INFORMATION:
WHAT: CAIR-GA News Conference on Proposed Mosque
WHEN: Tuesday, August 23, 12:30 p.m.
WHERE: Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam. 560 Fayetteville Rd SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
CONTACT: CAIR-GA Executive Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell; 404-285-9530; [email protected]
The Washington-based Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization has successfully defended the religious rights of a number of Muslim communities nationwide based on the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), which protects individuals, houses of worship and other religious institutions from discrimination in zoning and landmarking laws. So has the ACLU of Georgia.
SIGNATORIES TO MESSAGE TO NEWTON COUNTY
Edward Ahmed Mitchell, Esq.
Executive Director
Council on American-Islamic Relations
Georgia Chapter (CAIR-GA)
Rev. Dr. Francys Johnson, Esq.
President,
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Georgia Chapter (GA NAACP)
Beth Wilson
Interim Executive Director
American Civil Liberties Union
Georgia Chapter (ACLU of Georgia)
Azadeh Shahshahani, Esq.
Legal Advocacy Director
Project South
Rev. Dr. Fahed Abuakel
Presbyterian Minister
Greater Atlanta
Imam Nadim Ali
Convener
Council of Mosques of Metropolitan Atlanta
Professor Abbas Barzegar, Ph.D.
Georgia State University
Rev. Corey L. Brown,
Real Life Ministries
Karla Evans
Madina Institute USA
Shuaib Hanief
Editor-in-Chief
Atlanta Muslim
- Activists Recruiting, Organizing & Mentoring in Atlanta
- Al Hadiya Masjid – Marietta
- Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam
- Atlanta Muslim
- Atlanta Muslim Network
- Atlanta Raise Up – Fight for 15
- Freedom at Georgia State University
- Georgia Muslim Voter Project
- Greenview Madani Center
- Gwinnett Islamic Circle – Suwanee
- Hamzah Islamic Center
- Islamic Community Center of Atlanta
- Islamic Center of Duluth
- Al Hadiya Masjid – Marietta
- ICNA Relief Atlanta
- Latin Action at Emory
- Madina Institute USA
- Masjid Al-Quba
- Masjid As-Siddiq – Conyers
- Masjid Jaffar – Johns Creek
- Muslim Students Association – Georgia State University
- Oppressed Peoples Online Word
- United Students Against Sweatshops
- Southerners on New Ground (SONG)
- Street Groomers – Charity
- Asma Elhuni, USAS-GA
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.
La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.
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CONTACT: CAIR-GA Executive Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell; 404-285-9530; [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]