CAIR Press Releases

CAIR Calls President Biden’s Refusal to Meet Shireen Abu Akleh’s Family While Embracing Racist Israeli Leaders a ‘Failure of Moral Leadership’

(WASHINGTON, DC – 7/15/2022) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called President Biden’s refusal to meet with the family of murdered Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh – while affirming unconditional U.S. support for the Israeli government’s oppression of the Palestinian people – “a failure of moral leadership.” 

In a statement, CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell:  

“By refusing to meet with Shireen Abu Akleh’s family – while warmly embracing racist Israeli politicians, dismissing the prospect of peace talks and pledging unconditional U.S. support for Israel’s human rights abuses – President Biden has failed to show the basic moral leadership he promised on the campaign trail.  

“The Biden administration’s support for the status quo of occupation and autocracy in the Middle East is a doomed strategy of the past that does not reflect the sentiments of the American people, who increasingly support human rights for all people – including Palestinians.” 

CAIR had called on President Biden to meet with the Abu Akleh’s family during his visit to Jerusalem. 

Last week, CAIR condemned the State Department’s attempt to “whitewash and excuse” the Israeli government’s murder of Abu Akleh. CAIR also repeated its call for the FBI to launch an investigation into her death.  

SEE: CAIR Condemns State Department’s Attempt to ‘Whitewash and Excuse’ Murder of Shireen Abu Akleh, Repeats Call for FBI Probe 

Last month, CAIR joined Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) for the unveiling of a new street sign for “Jamal Khashoggi Way” outside of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C.   

SEE: CAIR to Join Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) at Unveiling of ‘Jamal Khashoggi Way’ Outside Saudi Embassy in DC 

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.            

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.           

Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook        

http://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational          

Subscribe to CAIR’s Email List        

https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters

Subscribe to CAIR’s Twitter Feed        

http://twitter.com/cairnational         

Subscribe to CAIR’s YouTube Channel        

http://www.youtube.com/cairtv         

Follow CAIR on Instagram        

https://www.instagram.com/cair_national/

Donate to CAIR        

https://action.cair.com/a/donate

Do you like reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.                  

You are receiving this email due to your interest selection from commercial media databases. If you would like to join CAIR’s media list, please sign up here: https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters — For more information, email: info@cair.com, CC ihooper@cair.com        

END 

CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com 

Latest Press Releases