Muslim civil rights group makes that request if basketball team fails to cancel ‘propaganda junket’ to Middle East
(WASHINGTON D.C., 7/27/2022) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on Alabama’s Auburn University to cancel an upcoming “birthright” trip to Israel, or failing that, to at least meet with ordinary Palestinians and learn about Israel’s system of apartheid without the presence of Israeli handlers.
The 10-day “Birthright for College Basketball” tour is set to begin this weekend. Players from Auburn University’s basketball team will visit historical sites in Israel and play three exhibition games against Israeli teams. The team will also reportedly meet with the Palestinian National Team’s coach Paul Coghter.
“This propaganda junket is clearly designed to normalize Israeli apartheid and racial segregation, while ignoring Israeli violations of Palestinian human rights and international law,” said CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper. “If this trip is not canceled, we urge members of the Auburn basketball team to meet with ordinary Palestinians without the presence of Israeli handlers so they can learn the realities of Israeli occupation and apartheid.”
He noted that Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Presbyterian Church USA have recently labeled Israel an apartheid state.
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.
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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