The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a prominent Muslim advocacy group, has criticized a Virginia lawmaker over remarks they said were Islamaphobic. Representative Virgil Goode (Republican), in a letter sent to constituents obtained by media outlets, criticized the first Muslim to be elected to Congress for wanting to use the Koran during a ceremonial swearing-in. Keith Ellison (Democrat from Minnesota) plans to take a formal oath, along with other new members of Congress, without using any holy book, but has said he will use the Koran during the ceremonial process and photo opportunity afterwards. That decision has angered some conservatives, including Goode, who wrote I do not subscribe to using the Koran in any way. The Muslim Representative from Minnesota was elected by the voters of that district and if American citizens don t wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Koran, the letter continued. In a statement released late Tuesday, CAIR called on Good to apologize for the remarks. Representative Goode s Islamaphobic remarks send a message of intolerance that is unworthy of anyone elected to public office, said CAIR National Legislative Director Corey Saylor. There can be no reasonable defense for such bigotry. The organization has offered to arrange a meeting between Goode and Muslim members of his district.
