Okla. Lawmakers Returning Korans Given to Them by State Panel
By: Administrative Account | Source: CNSNews.com
October 26, 2007 12:29PM EST

(CNSNews.com) - An Islamic Advocacy group on Friday plans to respond to "Islamophobic remarks" by state lawmakers in Oklahoma who rejected Korans sent to them as gifts by a state panel on diversity. "In rejecting the Qurans, Islam's revealed text, some lawmakers made stereotypical and offensive remarks that falsely linked the faith of Islam to violence," the Council on American Islamic Relations said. According to press reports, two dozen Oklahoma lawmakers plan to return copies of the Koran given to all 149 state legislators by the Governor's Ethnic American Advisory Council. The council is chaired by a Muslim woman. "Most Oklahomans do not endorse the idea of killing innocent women and children in the name of ideology," the Associated Press quoted Republican Rep. Rex Duncan as saying. CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper called Duncan's statement "disturbing" and "offensive" to Muslims. Oklahoma's Republican House Speaker Lance Cargill said he would accept the Koran -- and give the governor's advisory council a Bible in return. Groups of various faiths plan to appear at Friday's news conference, CAIR said.