This week, the Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, partnered with Jewish Voice for Peace DC Metro and Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace to hold a legislative briefing on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the surge in Islamophobia for state lawmakers ahead of the start of the 2024 session of the Maryland General Assembly that began Wednesday.
“This briefing was intended to inform state legislators regarding the situation in Palestine and to empower them to make informed decisions that will lead to policies that protect all people, including Palestinian and Muslim Marylanders,” said CAIR moderator Fatima Younis. “As the crisis in Gaza continues to get worse and Israel escalates its attacks, this information is imperative to help legislators understand the importance of taking action.”
“In times of disinformation, it’s very important for lawmakers to understand the reality of what’s happening in Israel and Palestine,” said Jewish Voice for Peace DC Metro Director Shelley Fudge. “JVP DC Metro is committed to standing up for justice, and we encourage legislators in Annapolis to reach out to us with any questions.”
“My family roots are in Gaza, where three of my grandparents were born and raised,” said Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace founder Dr. Philip Farah, who also presented at the briefing. “They lived near the Church of St. Porphyrius in the Zeitun neighborhood of Gaza, where they worshiped, were baptized and attended family weddings and holidays. The St. Porphyrius compound, the third oldest church in the world, was bombed on Oct 19th, killing 18 Gaza Christians who were sheltering there. An Israeli sniper killed two women inside another church, the Church of the Holy Family. State lawmakers need to understand that Israel has made it clear to the people of Gaza that there are no safe places anywhere. Hospitals, UN schools, as well as places of worship have been targeted in this mad campaign of slaughter. It is too late for too many but urgent action can help save more innocent lives.”
Presenters provided an overview of the dire humanitarian crisis impacting children, women, journalists, the healthcare system, aid workers and more. The cosponsors urged lawmakers in the Maryland General Assembly to:
- Support an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza,
- Support the flow of unrestricted humanitarian aid into Gaza,
- Advocate for free speech protections, especially considering the doxxing of students and baseless attacks and retaliation against educators and people over Palestine advocacy, and
- Oppose any legislation seeking to remove CAIR from the Attorney General’s Hate Crimes Commission. CAIR tracks and responds to hate bias incidents targeting Muslims, baselessly attacking the organization over advocacy for Palestinian human rights during these unprecedented times risks hurting all of our communities.
Reports of hate bias incidents targeting Muslims, Palestinians who are both Christian and Muslim and Jewish communities have skyrocketed since October.
At least seven Maryland mosques have been targeted by hate bias in recent weeks. The Maryland office of CAIR received an unprecedented 223 complaints, reports of hate bias incidents and requests for assistance between October 9 – December 2, 2023 – on average, a four-to-five fold monthly increase as compared with the month of September.
CAIR Releases Updated Number of Complaints, Bias Incidents Reported Against Maryland Muslims, Arabs in Past 8 Weeks
Safety concerns have mounted following the tragic murder of a beloved Imam, Hassan Sharif, in Newark, New Jersey, who was fatally shot recently in a senseless act of violence while opening the local mosque for the morning prayer service. No arrests have been made in the crime, and a motive is not yet known.
SEE: Imam fatally shot outside a New Jersey mosque remembered for his community leadership
https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/01/03/us/mosque-shooting-newark-new-jersey/index.html
New Jersey Police Seek Killer of Muslim Leader Outside Newark Mosque
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Representative Fatima Younis, mdoutreach@cair.com