US Muslim Congressman's desires to carry a Koran (Quran) for his swearning-in ceremony causes uproar

December 07, 2006, Rediff.com

Keith EllisonThe first Muslim US Congressman Keith Ellison's decision to carry a Koran to his swearing-in ceremony on January 4, has stirred a controversy. .

In a web column, the conservative pundit and talk show host Dennis Prager called it "an act of hubris ... that undermines American civilization."

"Insofar as a member of Congress taking an oath to serve America and uphold its values is concerned, America is interested in only one book, the Bible. If you are incapable of taking an oath on that book, don't serve in Congress."

This lead to an uproar in the media and blogosphere. Thousands of the Congressmen's constituents shot off angry e-mails to his office.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations shot off a letter to President George W Bush asking for Prager's removal as board member of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum.

The controversy has also divided media commentators. Some say Ellison's act goes against the nation's traditions, while others say Prager's column reflects the growing anti-Muslim sentiment in the country.