Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Hails Bin Laden's Death

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, hailed the death of al-Qaida kingpin Osama bin Laden. In a statement issued early Monday, CAIR declared:

"We join our fellow citizens in welcoming the announcement that Osama bin Laden has been eliminated as a threat to our nation and the world through the actions of American military personnel.

"As we have stated repeatedly since the 9/11 terror attacks, bin Laden never represented Muslims or Islam. In fact, in addition to the killing of thousands of Americans, he and al-Qaida caused the deaths of countless Muslims worldwide. We also reiterate President Obama's clear statement tonight that the United States is not at war with Islam."

Though Muslim groups have frequently been criticized for not speaking out against terrorists, the Washington, D.C.-based CAIR noted that it "coordinated one of the first joint American Muslim statements condemning the 9/11 terror attacks, issued just hours after they occurred."