US Reps. Call on Congress to Pass Resolution Affirming Muslims' Civil Rights

Detroit Congressmen John Conyers and Hansen Clarke (pictured), both Democrats, have asked Congress to counter a general climate of bias against the American Muslim community by passing a resolution affirming the civil rights of Muslims.

“We believe that this sense of Congress is a logical step toward sending the message that the American Muslim community should be able to enjoy the rights guaranteed under the Constitution to the same extent as all other Americans,” said Conyers and Clarke.

“Communities should be protected from the threat of violence and suspicion that, for example, was at the heart of last January’s thwarted attack against the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Michigan. They should also be able to rely on law enforcement’s fundamental integrity and respect for First Amendments protected rights.”

“Ultimately, the American Muslim community should be able to rely on the federal government to lead the effort in fostering an open climate of understanding and cooperation. Only through a balanced examination of the challenges facing the nation will we establish a strong policy framework for protecting security, while respecting the Constitution and the interests of affected communities.”

This is not the first time that Conyers has looked out for the American Muslim community. Back in March, Conyers appealed the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security to investigate allegations made by the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) that American-Muslims are being handcuffed, interrogated and harassed for hours by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents along the northern border.

“With federal hearings on radicalization and intense scrutiny by law enforcement of religious institutions, the American-Islamic community today is living in a climate that has the risk of producing a siege mentality,” said Conyers in a statement.

This month the Department of Homeland Security announced it was opening an investigation into reports that federal agents have improperly detained and harassed Muslims at U.S.-Canada border crossings in Michigan.