CAIR Elects N.C. State Senator Larry Shaw as Board Chair

New chairman looks forward to 'partnering' with administration on defending
civil rights, improving America's image

WASHINGTON, March 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic
Relations (CAIR), the nation's leading Muslim civil rights and advocacy group,
announced today that it has elected North Carolina State Senator Larry Shaw as
its new board chairman.

CAIR's new chairman said he looks forward to "partnering" with the Obama
administration to protect civil liberties and to help improve America's
international image.

Shaw is a long-standing member of the North Carolina Senate General Assembly
and a former member of the North Carolina House of Representatives General
Assembly. He also serves as the chairman of the Transportation Committee and
vice-chairman of the Finance Committee. Shaw was the country's highest-ranking
Muslim elected official before the election of Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) in
2006. Prior to becoming a public official, Shaw gained extensive business
experience in the food service industry. He has been on CAIR's national board
for three years.

In September of 2003, the six-term legislator was elected as vice-chairman of
the North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus of the state's general assembly.

"This is a critical time in our nation's history, a time that requires change
and renewal," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad. "I welcome Senator Shaw
as CAIR's new chairman and believe he will be a key player in broadening the
dialogue on issues of importance to our nation, from civil rights to political
participation and interfaith relations."

In a statement, Sen. Shaw said:

"CAIR exists to uphold the right to liberty that Americans are guaranteed
under the Constitution. We will challenge any attempts to erode
constitutionally-protected liberties. We will also continue to work to ensure
that American Muslims play a positive and productive role in our society.

"In carrying out our mission of promoting justice and mutual understanding, we
honor and will continue to learn from groups who have faced similar
challenges, including African-Americans, Asian-Americans and many others.

"CAIR embraces the cultural and religious pluralism that is a hallmark of
America and repudiates any misuse of Islam to falsely justify violence or
intolerance.

"We look forward to partnering with the Obama administration to help defend
civil liberties and to project to the world the best of our nation's
universal, constitutional and pluralistic values of freedom and justice."

CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 35 offices and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance understanding of
Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims,
and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or
202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina
Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations

Ibrahim Hooper, +1-202-488-8787 or +1-202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; Amina
Rubin, +1-202-488-8787, +1-202-341-4171, arubin@cair.com, all of CAIR