Mayor Defends E-Mail That Decries Muslim Stamp

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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Clarksville's mayor is defending an e-mail he forwarded that encourages "patriotic Americans" to oppose a postage stamp honoring two Islamic holidays.

The e-mail from Mayor Johnny Piper was obtained by The Leaf-Chronicle newspaper. Piper forwarded it Friday without comment to every City Council member and department head, other city employees and some friends and family.

"The email was long. I scanned down it, did not read it all, then read that item and forwarded it on to a list of people," said Piper.

The letter urges readers to remember what it calls vicious Muslim attacks on Americans, and then asks them to boycott a new stamp that commemorates the Muslim holiday season.

"The part that evoked my interest was the part of Americans dying," said Piper.

The e-mail erroneously claims that President Barack Obama ordered the stamp created. It first came out in 2001 and has been reissued four times.

Piper said the e-mail wasn't anti-Muslim but simply information others could use to draw their own conclusions.
A blog has the text of the e-mail

"I attend their functions. I hire those of Muslim faith. I have no disagreement with the Muslim people as far as faith," said Piper.

Hatem Shah works for Piper and the city of Clarksville and is a Muslim. Shah does not believe Piper's decision to forward the e-mail makes him anti-Muslim.

"No I am not mad you know. I take it very lightly you know," said Shah.

Piper did send a follow up message to smooth over any wrinkles.

"Just in case it offended someone I chose to send an apology, and I'm comfortable about my position today," said Piper.

Mayor Piper said he has since learned about the factual mistakes in the e-mail. He said his office has received a few phone calls about the message, but none of them were negative.

"Mayor Piper obviously has misconceptions about Islam that are best addressed through dialogue and education," said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper in an e-mailed statement. "We hope the mayor and the city council will accept the copies of the Quran in the spirit in which they are given and will agree to meet with representatives of the local Muslim community."

(The Associated Press Contributed To This Story)