Sign-on letter opposing Arizona HCM 2002 and HR 4097

Partner Organization Sign-On Letter Opposing Arizona HCM 2002 and H.R. 4097

From Arizona Faith Network comes this request in support of Muslim communities in Arizona.

“If you haven’t already, we strongly urge your organization to join us in signing the following statement opposing Arizona’s proposed H.C.M. 2002 and Congress’s proposed H.R. 4097. These resolutions unjustly call for designating the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a terrorist organization based on false, misleading, and unsubstantiated claims. As partners dedicated to civil rights, justice, and the protection of marginalized communities, your support is both vital and deeply appreciated.”

To the members of the Arizona House of Representatives and Senate,

The undersigned organizations write in strong opposition to Arizona’s HCM 2002 and to H.R. 4097, which urge the designation of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a terrorist organization. This resolution is built on false claims, misleading narratives, and recycled allegations that have never been substantiated by facts or upheld by any court of law.

CAIR has never been charged, prosecuted, or convicted of any crime related to terrorism. The resolution relies heavily on the misuse of a decades-old legal filing from an unrelated case, in which CAIR was never indicted, tried, or found to have committed any wrongdoing. Courts have made clear that such labeling was not a legal determination of guilt and cannot be used to justify condemnation or punishment.

The resolution also cites claims of supposed extremist “affiliations” while omitting a critical fact: no agency of the United States government has ever designated CAIR as a terrorist organization, nor has any court found it to have engaged in criminal activity. Repeating unverified accusations as fact does not strengthen national security; it weakens democratic institutions, the rule of law, and spreads Islamophobia.

Equally troubling is the harmful impact this resolution will have on Muslim communities in Arizona and across the country. Singling out a Muslim civil rights organization through unfounded allegations promotes fear, deepens division, and emboldens discrimination. It sends a dangerous message that Muslim institutions may be targeted without evidence or due process, chilling the civic participation of American Muslims and discouraging their engagement with the democratic institutions that should protect all residents equally.

We support lawful and fact-based efforts to combat violence and extremism. However, policies rooted in misinformation and political targeting undermine those goals and damage public trust in government.

We also note with concern that this resolution's primary legislative champion has a documented record of anti-Muslim rhetoric, including public statements describing Muslims as "savages" and accusing Muslim immigrants of "subversion." Such statements suggest this legislation is rooted not in legitimate security concerns, but in religious animus, precisely the kind of government action the First Amendment was designed to prohibit.

For these reasons, we urge lawmakers to reject HCM 2002 and H.R. 4097, and instead uphold the constitutional principles of due process, equal protection, and religious freedom.