GOP congressman stands by Koran comments

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 (UPI) -- A Virginia GOP lawmaker is standing by criticism of a Democratic colleague's decision to use the Koran at his swearing-in.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations Tuesday urged Rep. Virgil Goode, R-Va., to apologize for what they said were anti-Muslim remarks in a letter he sent to a constituent, criticizing the plan of Rep.-elect Keith Ellison, D-Minn., the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Congress, to use a Koran for the ceremonial swearing-in of members next year.

"I do not subscribe to using the Koran in any way," wrote Goode, according to a copy of the letter provided by his office. "The Muslim Representative from Minnesota was elected by the voters of that district and if American citizens don't wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Koran."

"I fear that in the next century we will have many more Muslims in the United States if we do not adopt the strict immigration policies that I believe are necessary to preserve the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America," Goode wrote.

"Representative Goode's Islamophobic remarks send a message of intolerance that is unworthy of anyone elected to public office," said Council on American-Islamic Relations National Legislative Director Corey Saylor. "There can be no reasonable defense for such bigotry."

Saylor said Goode should apologize for his remarks and offered to arrange a meeting between the congressman and members of the Muslim community in his district.

Goode's Spokesman Linwood Duncan told United Press International that the congressman had no intention of apologizing. "He stands by everything in the letter," said Linwood.