CAIR CONDEMNS BEATING BY NEW ORLEANS POLICE

WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/12/05) - A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today condemned the beating of a 64-year-old retired school teacher who was repeatedly punched by New Orleans police on Saturday.In a statement, the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said:"The brutality exhibited by police officers in their mistreatment of Robert Davis cannot be justified and should be condemned by all those who seek justice in our society."Davis, who is African-American, said he was out to buy cigarettes in the French Quarter when he was beaten by three white officers and then arrested. Police alleged that Davis was intoxicated, a charge he denied. The incident was caught on videotape and has sparked a nationwide outcry.CAIR, America's largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.