CAIR, WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/17/10 --

The Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT) today called on state Republican leaders to repudiate intolerant statements made by Bridgeport Republican Town Committee Chairman Rick Torres.

During a recent debate among candidates seeking the GOP nomination for Connecticut's Fourth Congressional District, Torres is reported to have said: "It turns out, folks, they [Muslims] are here, they're among us. We are at war with Islam. I don't tolerate people who are not tolerant." It was also reported that Torres said that he “wants America's mosques and Imams to openly condemn terrorists' actions."

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"Rick Torres is completely out of touch with reality and contradicts statements made by his party’s own leaders," said CAIR-CT Executive Director Mongi Dhaoudi. "Presidents Bush and Obama have both said America is not at war with Islam, and local and national media outlets have frequently reported on the strong American Muslim repudiation of terror."

SEE: Muslims Welcome Arrest in Times Square Bomb Plot (Video) CAIR-Anti-Terrorism Campaigns

He noted that CAIR last week called on national Republican leaders to repudiate similarly Islamophobic campaign advertisements for a Florida GOP congressional candidate.

SEE: CAIR Asks GOP to Repudiate Racist, Anti-Muslim Ads

Dhaoudi also said that the man who initially reported the suspicious car in the recent failed attack in New York's Times Square -- and who would have been among the first killed or injured had the device exploded -- was a Muslim immigrant from Senegal.

SEE: Muslim Vendor Gets No Credit in Helping to Foil Times Square Bomb Plot

Today, CAIR attributed Monday’s bomb attack on a Florida mosque to a "growing atmosphere of anti-Muslim sentiment" nationwide that results from Islamophobic statements like those made by Torres.

SEE: CAIR Questions National Silence on Fla. Mosque Bombing A Tale of Two Terrors: Times Square vs. Jacksonville FBI Releases Demonstration Video Related to Islamic Center of Northeast Florida Explosion

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

SEE ALSO: Coalition Wants Obama to Direct Probe Into MI Imam's Death A coalition of religious leaders is calling on President Barack Obama to initiate a civil rights investigation of the October death of an Islamic cleric during an FBI sting operation. CAIR: U.S. Forced American Muslim Into 'Exile' (AFP)

CONTACT:

CAIR-Connecticut Executive Director Mongi Dhaoudi, 860-514-8038, E-Mail: mdhaoudi@cair.com; CAIR National Legislative Director Corey Saylor, 202-384-8857, E-Mail: csaylor@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com