The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on Sunday commended US Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) for publicly condemning anti-Muslim remarks made by his Republican colleagues and for affirming that American Muslims must be judged as individuals, not stereotyped or collectively condemned because of the actions of others.

During an interview Sunday on CBS’s Face the Nation, moderator Margaret Brennan asked Cassidy about recent anti-Muslim remarks by Republican lawmakers.

Cassidy responded unequivocally:

“I condemn language like that.”

He went on to describe Muslim Americans he has worked with, including physicians serving communities in rural Louisiana and professors educating students, and stressed the importance of judging people individually.

“Every community has a bad apple, and every community has those people,” Cassidy said. “I condemn those statements, and everybody should be treated as an individual.”

CAIR said Cassidy’s comments represent an important rejection of collective blame and religious stereotyping at a time when anti-Muslim rhetoric has increasingly entered mainstream political discourse.

Read More:

“Senator Cassidy did the right thing by clearly and unequivocally condemning anti-Muslim rhetoric from members of his own party,” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. “American Muslims are our doctors, teachers, neighbors, veterans, business owners, public servants and elected officials. They are Americans, and they deserve the same dignity and respect as every other American.”

“Political disagreements are legitimate in our democracy. Attacking an entire faith community, however, is not. We appreciate Senator Cassidy’s recognition that Muslims must be judged as individuals and not smeared collectively.”

He also called on Republican and Democratic leaders alike to reject anti-Muslim bigotry whenever and wherever it occurs and to make clear that religious identity should never be used as a political weapon.

Source: Cair.com