Congressional Anti-Terrorism Caucus
On January 30, 2007, U.S. Representative Sue Myrick (R-North Carolina (U.S. state)), along with Representatives Bud Cramer (D-Alabama (U.S. state)), Kay Granger (R-Texas), and Ben Chandler (D-Kentucky) formally announced they have formed a new bipartisan Congressional Anti-Terrorism Caucus. The four were the founding co-chairs; Rep. Jane Harman (D-California (U.S. state) replaced Chandler.
Walid Phares is academic adviser.
Briefings
A Moderate Muslim Summit, held in July 2009, had a diverse group of Muslims meet from the State Department, USAID, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense. Speakers included: [1]
- Dr. Hedieh Mirahmadi- President World Organization for Resource Development and Education (WORDE)
- Dr. Zeyno Baran- Director for the Center for Eurasian Policy at the Hudson Institute
- Farid Ghadry- President of the Reform Party of Syria
- Manda Zand Ervin the founder and director of the Alliance of Iranian Women
- Dr. Ali Alyami- Executive Director, The Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia
- Omran Salman- Arab Reformists Project, 'Aafaq (Arabic for “horizons”).
- Dr. Zudi Jasser,American Islamic Forum for Democracy
- Karim Bromund, Director of Inter-Religious Affairs for the Islamic Supreme Council of America
Council on American Islamic Relations
In October 2009, Myrick and fellow Republicans on the Caucus called for Congress to cut ties with the Council on American Islamic Relations, such as sponsoring interns. Joining her call were Reps. John Shadegg (R-Arizona), Paul Broun (R-Georgia) and Trent Franks (R-Arizona). Democrats, including House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Michigan) defended CAIR, saying that the GOP allegations were promoting religious intolerance and heightening tensions between Muslims and non-Muslims. Rep. Mike Honda (D-California (U.S. state), chairman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, termed Myrick’s comments as “fear-rousing,”[2]
She referred to a Federal Bureau of Investigation letter sent to Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Arizona) in April, saying that the investigation for U.S. v. Holy Land Foundation had shown ties between CAIR and the Palestinian Committee of the Muslim Brotherhood, which helped the Foundation raise funds that went to Hamas. The FBI, as a result, cut its working relationships with CAIR.
References
- ↑ Phares moderator at Rep Myrick sponsored "Moderate Muslims Summit" in the US Congress, Walid Phares, 24 July 2009
- ↑ Jordy Yager (17 October 2009), "Rep. Myrick repeats call to cut CAIR ties", The Hill