Can’t Offend Little Muslims: DOJ Warns Anti-Muslim Rhetoric Could Violate Law
A U.S. attorney in Tennessee said that it’s possible that some inflammatory criticism of Muslims posted on social networking sites could violate federal civil rights laws.
“We need to educate people about Muslims and their civil rights, and as long as we’re here, they’re going to be protected,” U.S. attorney Bill Killian told the Tullahoma News last week. “This is also to inform the public about what federal laws are in effect and what the consequences are.”
Killian, along with an FBI agent, are expected to attending a meeting Tuesday in Manchester, Tenn. hosted by a local Muslim group to “educate people on the First Amendment and its application in society.”
His comments sparked concern among conservative groups that the federal government is about to crack down on anti-Muslim rhetoric – a claim the U.S. attorney denies.
“It has nothing to do with Sharia law,” Killian told Fox News. “It has to do with the United States Constitution and federal statutes. You have a right under the First Amendment to hate Muslims. You can hate all Muslims if you want to.”
But he added a caveat — “as long as it does not rise to the level of violating federal civil rights laws.”
The meeting comes after a Tennessee lawmaker posted a photograph of a man aiming a shotgun with the caption, “How to wink at a Muslim.”
“It’s an open forum to discuss the First Amendment — to discuss its application to all religions and to Muslim religions,” he said. “And to discuss federal civil rights statues which we’ve done at other times and other places.”
Read more: radio.foxnews.com
