Source: Muslim Public Affairs Council

http://www.mpac.org/NEWS/newsitemdisplay.asp?ID=82&ITEMTYPE=NEWS

On February 12, 2002, the Muslim Public Affairs Council issued a press release stating, "Department of Justice Response to Muslim Community Unsatisfactory." It read, in part: "The letter maintained that the Attorney General's offending comment, 'Islam is a religion in which God requires you to send your son to die for him. Christianity is a faith in which God sends his son to die for you,' does not accurately reflect the Attorney General's views. The letter also mentioned that the Justice Department would, 'remain committed to protecting the civil rights and dignity of all Americans.'" The press release expressed MPAC's "concern that statements like the Attorney General's may fuel wide-spread distrust in the American Muslim community toward law enforcement prompts MPAC to call for a meeting between the Attorney General's office and the leadership of the Muslim community." The statment concluded, "MPAC is concerned more broadly that such statements contribute to an overall climate of divisiveness and intolerance in our nation at a time that unity is a national priority."