Washington, DC — Following reports that Daniel Pipes may be seated as a Director of the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) by a Presidential Recess Appointment, the Sikh Mediawatch and Resource Task Force (SMART), a national Sikh American civil rights organization, expressed concern about the process sidestepping congressional confirmation. According to recent news reports, Pipes, who never appeared before the U.S. Senate for approval, will be appointed as a director of the USIP during Congress’ August recess. A vote on his nomination was indefinitely postponed by the Senate’s Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee last month. Manjit Singh, Chair of SMART’s Board of Directors, stated, “We believe subjecting our fellow Muslim brothers and sisters to increased, government-sanctioned scrutiny as per Dr. Pipes’ sentiments will send the potentially damaging message that it is okay to discriminate based solely on real or perceived religious affiliation.” Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Pipes advocated widespread religious profiling targeting Arab and Muslim Americans. In a statement in the Ontario, Canada London Free Press, Pipes was quoted as saying, “I worry very much from the Jewish point of view that the presence and increased stature, and affluence, and enfranchisement of American Muslims will present true dangers.” The USIP cannot positively gain from such intolerant viewpoints. SMART also participated in a briefing for Senate staff preceding the HELP Committee’s hearing. During that briefing, SMART stated, “[D]espite his academic qualifications, we are also concerned with Mr. Pipes’ founding of groups such as Campus Watch and Campus Truth. As a civil rights organization, we hold the First Amendment in the highest regard and would vehemently defend Mr. Pipes’ right to articulate his views. However, he has worked to ‘out’ academics who disagree with his views on Middle East politics. These actions have resulted in initiatives that have attempted to hinder free thought and discussion at universities across the country. We believe a nominee to the USIP—which recently undertook a special initiative in the Muslim world to create a bridge between cultures—should more adequately demonstrate such values.”
