(Photo by Matthew Casey, KJZZ)

Madihha Ahussain, special counsel for anti-Muslim bigotry at Muslim Advocates

An advocacy group has asked officials to cancel a police training session by a former FBI agent with controversial views on Muslims.

John Guandolo has drawn the attention of the hate-group watchdog, Southern Poverty Law Center, which has described him as a “notorious Muslim basher and conspiracy theorist.”

An organization named Muslim Advocates sent a letter to a handful of Valley police chiefs asking them to pull support for Guandolo, who has a long history of biased training, said Madihha Ahussain, special counsel for anti-Muslim bigotry.

“These trainings then ultimately lead to discriminatory policing, where people are targeted simply because of their faith,” Ahussain said.

The training is hosted by the Arizona Police Association. The event will take place at a Mesa Police Department training facility, and it’s funded by a grant from the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.