Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, lauded Obama’s endorsment.”We welcome President Obama’s strong statement of support for American Muslim religious rights and hope his remarks will serve as encouragement to those who are challenging the rising level of Islamophobia in our society,” Awad said. “We urge other national political and religious leaders to speak out in defense of the freedom of religion and equality of all Americans enshrined in our Constitution.”…