Tampabay.com
APRIL 13, 2009

Hasner shrugs off CAIR slam

The Council on American-Islamic Relations is calling on House Majority Leader Adam Hasner to disassociate himself from a "free speech summit" he's helping host that features, among others, a controversial Dutch politician, Geert Wilders, often criticized for extremism and being anti-Islam. Wilders has likened the Koran to Mein Kampf.

“If Rep. Hasner truly wishes to represent Florida’s diverse religious and ethnic population, he should immediately disassociate himself and the state Legislature from this motley collection of Islamophobes and Muslim-bashers,” CAIR-South Florida Executive Director Altaf Ali said of Wilders and others involved in the event.

Hasner brushed off the CAIR criticism: "These are the same people who have been attacking me all session. This isn't about being anti-Islam, this is all about the right to free speech and they are trying to stifle it."

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