http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=1103406NASHVILLE, TN - A Republican candidate for governor of Tennessee is being criticized by a Muslim rights group for questioning whether Islam is more of a cult than a religion.
At an event in Chattanooga this month, Ron Ramsey said: "You could even argue whether that being a Muslim is actually a religion, or is it a nationality, way of life, cult or whatever you want to call it?"
Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said Ramsey's comments are part of "a disturbing trend in our nation in which it is suggested that American Muslims should have fewer or more restricted constitutional rights than citizens of other faiths."
Ramsey in response issued a statement saying he's concerned that "far too much of Islam has come to resemble a violent political philosophy more than peace-loving religion."
Meanwhile, in Washington, DC, the FBI is defending its domestic surveillance guidelines, which critics fear could target innocent Muslims in terrorism and other criminal investigations.
Farhana Khera, executive director of the nonprofit group Muslim Advocates, says the FBI has lowered the bar for sending undercover agents or informants into mosques and for gathering data about Muslims' charitable giving, financial transactions and jobs.
On the eve of congressional testimony by FBI director Robert Mueller, the Bureau insisted that its procedures ensure that FBI investigations do not target anyone on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion or the exercise of any constitutional rights.
Topic: Candidate criticized for remark about Islam (Read 1672 times)