(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/23/23) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, issued guidance to U.S. employers in response to a spike in Islamophobic and anti-Palestinian rhetoric by companies as a result of the ongoing Israeli war against Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
CAIR is urging employers to exercise their responsibility to protect employees from harassment due to their background and their speech. The guide, which is posted on CAIR-administered website Islamophobia.org, includes context surrounding the current conflict in the Middle East, information on the legal limitations of employer actions and best practices for U.S. employers who seek to support employees of all backgrounds who are affected by this conflict.
“Many companies have previously pledged their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. Yet, the disregard for the Palestinian and Muslim employees affected by this current conflict has indicated otherwise,” said CAIR Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor. “We simply ask that companies reaffirm their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the only way to do that is to oppose anti-Arab, anti-Palestinian, and Islamophobic bias in the workplace.”
This guidance follows CAIR’s analysis last week, which documented corporate statements that have ignored many diversity, equity, and inclusion policies by neglecting the legitimate concerns of their employees who oppose the Israeli bombings of Gaza.
CAIR’s analysis included statements from high-ranking executives at Amazon, Google, Pfizer, and Microsoft, and documented corporate leaders who have threatened student activists for their support of Palestinian human rights.
SEE: Special Report: U.S. Corporate Statements Ignore Palestinian Humanity, Promote Anti-Arab, Islamophobic Bias, Threaten Students
CAIR also issued a template pledge opposing anti-Arab bias and Islamophobia for those corporations who want to honor their commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion while clearly rejecting bigotry.
SEE: Template Corporate Pledge Uplifting Respect for Arab and Muslim Communities
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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 Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor, 202-384-8857, csaylor@cair.com; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-999-8292, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com, CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com