All groups must be allowed their say

The narrow-mindedness of those who pressured The Meadows Club to cancel a Muslim convention undermines the rule of law and freedom in America (“Islamic conference won’t be in Rolling Meadows”, June 13). Some conservatives sent emails and made calls threatening protests at the club, prompting its owner to cancel “Khalifah Conference 2012.” The conference was to be hosted by Hizb ut-Tahrir America, a marginal but worldwide political movement calling for the unification of Muslim states under a religious authority.

The thought of the members of an unpopular religion meeting to discuss “Muslims marching toward victory” naturally disturbs some. Publicizing such militant slogans is irresponsible rhetoric. But our system of law and rights does not guarantee freedoms to people based on whether they make you feel edgy.

The law can ban these opinions only when they curtail your rights. Tahrir has no responsibility for al-Qaida actions. And until they behave in a way harmful to anyone, we must allow them their voice. To those who argue that we must stop Tahrir before they become harmful, I reply that if we denied freedom to people because of the actions of their coreligionists, America would be one large prison. The Ku Klux Klan murdered thousands of African-Americans. Timothy McVeigh, a Catholic, bombed the Oklahoma federal building. Yet, we do not ban Nazis or Klansmen from running for president (David Duke).

We cannot even ban Tahrir if they advocate Islamic law in America. The same conservatives sounding this alarm say that we are a Christian country that should have “biblical principles” such as school prayer throughout public life. Being true to our principles means we allow innocent groups, like Tahrir, to bark their message alongside other fundamentalists. We might despise it, but that is why their freedom should be protected.

Caise Diab

Oak Lawn