Story perpetuates McCarthyism against group

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070419/OPINION01/704190325/1008

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Story perpetuates McCarthyism against group

In a reprint of a New York Times article, which was relabeled as "Muslim group under fire: Mandate of fostering understanding of Islam challenged by critics who allege terrorism links" on April 4 by The Detroit News, the edited version omitted an extremely relevant section that skewed the spirit of the original article.

The original article clearly presented that government officials in Washington, D.C., stated that linking the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) to terrorism is akin to "McCarthyism."

Also omitted was the quote from Michael Rolince, a retired FBI official who directed counterterrorism from 2002 to 2005, who stated that "of all the groups, there is probably more suspicion about CAIR, but when you ask people for cold hard facts, you get blank stares."

The News' headline, combined with the omission of such pertinent information, inadvertently perpetuated the McCarthyistic atmosphere elaborated upon by federal law enforcement officials.

Dawud Walid
Executive Director
Council on American-Islamic Relations -- Michigan
Southfield