(AP) LANCASTER, Calif. - A Muslim group filed a federal civil rights complaint Friday, Feb. 5, after a southern California mayor remarked that he was “growing a Christian community” in a state of the city address on Wednesday, January 27.

In a letter to the U.S. Justice Department, the Council on American-Islamic Relations claimed Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris violated the civil rights of non-Christians and shouldn’t have used his official capacity at a city event to advance a particular religion.

The civil rights group also said Parris referred to an April ballot measure that would endorse prayer at city meetings without restricting its content, including references to Jesus Christ, as a way to “validate a Christian stance.”

Such a mixing of church and state is “unhealthy, unconstitutional and very divisive,” said Hussam Ayloush, executive director of CAIR in greater Los Angeles.

“The role of any faith, of religion in general, is needed as much as the role of government. ... Our concern is when the wall of separation is blurred,” said Ayloush, whose letter requested a Justice Department investigation.

Ayloush also added, “Our nation and its citizens have thrived for more than 200 years on the Establishment Clause, which mandates that the government will not establish any official religion. The Establishment Clause has allowed all religions to be treated equally and to flourish and contribute to society.”

Additionally, the Antelope Valley Human Relations Task Force held a meeting on Monday, Feb. 8, to investigate as “hate incidents” comments made by the mayor as well as anti-Muslim remarks of Councilwoman Sherry Marquez, who in reference to the murder of Aasiya Hasan, wrote in a Facebook post: “This is what the Muslim religion is all about.”

Muslim community leaders criticized Marquez for the posting. Marquez apologized for the effect her comments had on the city at a recent City Council meeting.

Parris, who was elected mayor in 2008, said he made the comment in a speech to Christian ministers at an event he paid for and thought it was appropriate. He said he was sorry if anyone was hurt by the remark, which was not his intent.

However, an Antelope Valley Press article pointed out that the city’s cost for renting the hall was a bit over $3,300 and that the mayor was going to reimburse the money when invoiced by the city.

“I think it is totally ludicrous,” Parris told AP Friday. “Something very dangerous is happening in America when a profession of your faith can end up in actual government hearings. All of us get to express our opinion wherever, whenever we want to, including opinions of faith, and that is what I did, and that is what I will continue to do.”

InFocus News contacted the mayor for his response to whether he was promoting religion in his official capacity.

Although the mayor’s assistant replied indicating an interest, no official response was received from the mayor as of press time. 

The controversy follows an uproar in the bedroom community about 40 miles north of Los Angeles about anti-Muslim remarks posted by Marquez on her Facebook social networking page.

Marquez did not respond to a request for interview by IFN. She has yet to fulfill the Muslim community’s request for a meeting over her anti-Muslim remarks.

CAIR’s complaint with the Department of Justice can be viewed at: http://tinyurl.com/ykotyhd

 

IFN contributed to this report.