Muslim civil rights group calls on members of Congress to enact immediate arms embargo, invoke Leahy Laws
The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today acknowledged U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)’s sharp rebuke of President Biden’s failure to act on preventing the ongoing genocide in Gaza and urgently called on Congress to take decisive action to halt all U.S. arms shipments to Israel by enacting an immediate arms embargo. CAIR is also urging Congress to invoke the Leahy Laws to prevent U.S. military assistance from supporting gross human rights violations in Gaza, after the president’s failure to act to protect innocent civilians and uphold American values.
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Despite repeated calls from civil rights advocates, humanitarian organizations, and communities across the globe, the administration has failed to act meaningfully to stop the Israeli government’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which has led to the indiscriminate killing of up to hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians, mostly women and children. The sustained bombings, which have targeted densely populated areas, homes, schools, and hospitals, constitute clear violations of international law, prompting widespread outcry for accountability.
Recently, CAIR declared President Biden a “war criminal” following his decision to continue sending weapons to the Israeli government after it flouted Biden’s 30-day deadline to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
The civil rights group is calling on Congress to fulfill its duty to act where the president has failed, using all tools available to halt U.S. complicity in the Gaza genocide.
Key Demands:
- Enact an Immediate Arms Embargo: Congress must use its legislative power to implement an immediate embargo on arms transfers to Israel. By ceasing the flow of U.S. weapons, Congress can help end the violent assault on Palestinian civilians, ensuring American resources are not used to perpetuate human rights abuses.
- Invoke Leahy Laws: Under the Leahy Laws, Congress has a clear pathway to prevent U.S. military assistance from reaching foreign forces that commit gross human rights violations. CAIR Maryland demands that Congress take immediate steps to withhold military aid and assistance in compliance with the Leahy Laws, holding the Israeli government accountable for actions that endanger civilian lives.
In a statement, CAIR’s Maryland office said:
“We welcome Senator Van Hollen’s strong words and moral clarity. The unthinkable human toll in Gaza is a tragedy enabled by the failure of leadership at the highest levels. It is now imperative that members of Congress speak up and put pressure on President Biden to end the genocide by upholding U.S. and enforcing an arms embargo on the Israeli government. The world is watching, and we must ensure that the United States is on the side of justice, not complict in a genocide. Congress has the power and responsibility to lead on this issue, and immediate steps must be taken to align U.S. policy with human rights and international law. We stand committed to supporting measures that will help bring an end to the suffering of the Palestinian people and protect the sanctity of human life.”
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 Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062; Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com