Press Release/Commentary by US NEWSWIRE posted on August 03, 2004 at 16:43:10: EST (-5 GMT)

CAIR Joins 'Call to Action' on Darfur Crisis;
Statement Seeks to Raise Public Awareness of Suffering

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Council on
American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today announced that it has joined
with more than 70 other faith-based, humanitarian and human rights
groups in signing a "Unity Statement and Call to Action" in response
to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Darfur, Sudan.

The statement, issued by the Save Darfur Coalition, seeks to raise
public awareness and to mobilize North Americans and members of the
international community to help end the crisis in and around Darfur
that threatens the lives of two million people.

After outlining the suffering faced by the people of Darfur, the
statement calls for specific actions that include worldwide efforts to
stop population displacement and end crimes against humanity,
governmental humanitarian support and access to match the need,
support for relief organizations providing aid, the rebuilding of
villages and the return of those displaced, and the creation of a UN
commission of inquiry.

"It is important that Americans of all faiths first understand the
misery felt by the people of Darfur and then act to help alleviate
their suffering," said CAIR Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper.
Hooper also cautioned against portraying the crisis in terms of ethnic
stereotypes or allowing exploitation of the suffering to promote
political or religious agendas.

CAIR has urged American Muslims to send donations to Islamic relief
organizations working in Darfur. SEE: http://www.reliefonline.org/ and
http://www.irw.org/sudan/

Other Muslim groups signing the statement include the Islamic
Circle of North America, Islamic American Relief Agency, Muslim
American Society Freedom Foundation, and the American Sufi Muslim
Association.

In addition to the statement, the Save Darfur Coalition is
sponsoring a national Interfaith Day of Conscience on Wednesday,
August 25, in churches, synagogues, mosques, and community centers
nationwide.

CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 28
regional offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada.

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CONTACT: Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail:
cair(At)cair-net.org; Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441,
E-Mail: rahmed(At)cair-net.org