Muslim Group Sues Congressman for Defamation

releases.usnewswire.com ^

[chance33_98]

Muslim Group Sues Congressman for Defamation

12/3/03 11:25:00 AM

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To: National Desk

Contact: Arsalan Iftikhar, 202-488-8787, 202-415-0799; Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, cair@cair-net.org; or Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, rahmed@cair-net.org, all of CAIR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3 /U.S. Newswire/ -- A prominent national Islamic civil rights organization today announced that it has filed a defamation lawsuit against a congressman from North Carolina who falsely claimed the group is "the fund-raising arm for Hezbollah."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) filed the lawsuit Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in response to an October 2003 Charlotte Observer newspaper article in which Rep. Cass Ballenger (R-N.C.) claimed the stress of living near CAIR in Washington, D.C., caused the breakup of his marriage.

Ballenger said that proximity to CAIR "bugged the hell" out of his wife. He said his wife also objected to women "wearing hoods" going in and out of CAIR's Capitol Hill headquarters. (NOTE: Many CAIR staffers wear religiously-mandated headscarves, or hijab.) At the time of the article's publication, CAIR attributed Ballenger's statements to "Islamophobic hysteria."

In its lawsuit, CAIR said Ballenger's defamatory statements harmed the group's reputation and were not protected speech because he did not make them within the scope of his role as a member of the House of Representatives. The suit says Ballenger's claim that CAIR raised funds for terrorists was made "with actual malice, wrongful and willful intent to injure...and with reckless disregard for its truth or falsity." CAIR is seeking $2 million in compensatory and punitive damages, together with costs and attorney's fees.

"With this lawsuit, we are sending a clear message to all those who make malicious and defamatory statements against American Muslims or their institutions that they will be held accountable in a court of law," said Arsalan Iftikhar, CAIR's director of legal affairs.

Ballenger, who serves on the House International Relations Committee, has angered African-American and women's groups with previous bigoted statements. Last December, Ballenger said African-American Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney stirred in him "a little bit of a segregationist feeling. I mean, she was such a b-tch." In another incident, many people were offended by a black lawn jockey -- long a symbol of racial insensitivity -- in Ballenger's front yard.

CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and has 25 regional offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.

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CONTACT: Arsalan Iftikhar, 202-488-8787, 202-415-0799; Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, cair@cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, rahmed@cair- net.org

NOTE: CAIR offers an e-mail list designed to be a journalist's window to the American Muslim community. Subscribers to the list, called ISLAM-INFONET, receive news releases and other materials dealing with American Muslim positions on issues of importance to our society.

To SUBSCRIBE to ISLAM-INFONET, go to: http://cair.biglist.com/islam-infonet/

http://www.usnewswire.com/

[WackyKat]

CAIR- the enemy within

[BenLurkin]

Next time FR is defamed in the media can we file a lawsuit? A million dollar settlement could pay for quite a few patriotic barbecues.

[stainlessbanner]

CAIR said Ballenger's defamatory statements ...were not protected speech because he did not make them within the scope of his role as a member of the House of Representatives.

Not sure what this means. They'll never prove damages -- It's a publicity stunt.

[Shermy]

The CAIR boys probably were doubly riled for being linked to an apostate Shi'ite terror group.

If the congressman said "Hamas", then maybe he'd have a chance.

[nuconvert]

"...falsely claimed the group is "the fund-raising arm for Hezbollah."

That's right. They're Hamas. How could he make that mistake?

[Steve_Stifler]

How was CAIR defamed by those statements? Looks like it is Ballenger's wife, if anyone, who has reason to complain.

[Naspino]

I have to agree with CAIR though. If a public figure like Leno made a statement that CAIR fundraises for terrorism then he should be held to account. A congressman shouldn't because he might have made the statement based on secret intelligence.

Sorry I know I'm not supposed to have this opinion but if a liberal said something similar about the NRA or other conservative group then we might want them held to account.

[fiscally_right]

Everyone named in this article is a dimwit.. Headscarves? Living near people who hide their hair ruined your marriage? Puh-lease.

Okay, so if the court finds this senator guilty of slander, then we'll have something to talk about.. I won't hold my breath.

[Naspino]

I don't know if its technically defamation but if a public figure says that your company or organization is a fund-raiser for terrorism then it seems like it would hurt your efforts to fundraise or make a living.

[stainlessbanner]

Regardless of his statements. They will have a very hard time proving damages.

[Rebelbase]

"Next time FR is defamed in the media can we file a lawsuit?"

Speaking of, wasn't it Sacramento where a memo was put out by a lunatic on the city council calling FR a hate group?

Was there to be a lawsuit over that?

[BenLurkin]

Yes . . . Hmmmm . . . . that's right . . .

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Ballenger is guilty of marrying a woman who isn't necessarily sophisticated. That being said, I don't know how CAIR could be to blame, in this instance, and expect reparations.

This lawsuit will not go far.

[nuconvert]

"Ballenger (R-N.C.) claimed the stress of living near CAIR in Washington, D.C., caused the breakup of his marriage."

Lol. What next??

[akbaines]

I am sure they could fund many more islamic goals to take over the world with 2 Mil.

[OXENinFLA]

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[akbaines]

So you don't believe that it is true?

[mewzilla]

Discovery should be fun...

[Tunehead54]

Not sure what this means. They'll never prove damages -- It's a publicity stunt.

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I believe it a reference to the speech and debate clause of our constitution. Members of Congress are immune to suit for things they say in Congress - didn't know it applied outside the chambers but may - check findlaw.com.