On Thursday, September 11, the Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT) plans to hold a media availability with Intifada Abdelghani and her 14-year-old son Musa, both U.S. citizens, finally returning home to Connecticut after their travel ban was lifted by Israeli authorities. They are scheduled to land at Logan Airport in Boston on Thursday, September 11 at 2:30 p.m.
Maher Abdelghani, along with his children, will be at the airport to greet his wife and son, who were prevented from departing Ben Gurion Airport since August 14. The family will then travel to their home in Meriden, where they will be welcomed by friends and neighbors. Media will be able to meet the family outside their home later that evening.
SEE: CAIR-CT Welcomes Lifting of Israeli Travel Ban on Meriden Family
[MEDIA AVAILABILITY: The Abdelghani family will be available to speak to media on the evening of September 11 at their home in Meriden at approximately 7 p.m. CONTACTFOR DETAILS: Farhan Memon, Chairman of CAIR-CT 203-517-6526 (cell) or fmemon@cair.com]
Farhan Memon, chairman of CAIR-CT, which has been assisting the family, said:
“What happened to the Abdelghani family is not an isolated case but part of a broader injustice. Americans are starting to wake up to the reality that Israel is a genocidal regime, one that has stolen the land of the indigenous Palestinians and now kills and harasses anyone with a connection to that land. All of this is enabled by the unwavering support of the U.S. government. Solving the case of one family is important and we are grateful for their safety, but we cannot lose sight of the thousands of people who have been killed, displaced, and brutalized with our tax dollars. There are still elected officials who put Israel first, and that must change.”
“We are relieved beyond words to know that Intifada and Musa are finally coming home,” said Maher Abdelghani. “This has been a nightmare for our family. No American citizens should have to endure intimidation, degrading searches, and weeks of separation just because they are Palestinian. While our ordeal is ending, we cannot forget that countless other Palestinians continue to face these same injustices every day. We are thankful to our elected officials and our community for standing by us.”
BACKGROUNDER:
The family’s ordeal began when Israeli authorities refused to allow Intifada and Musa to board their flight home in mid-August, allegedly subjecting them to repeated invasive searches and rejecting their U.S. passports. They were told instead to provide Palestinian Authority documents, despite their U.S. citizenship.
- Intifada was subjected to at least eight separate searches in a single day, repeatedly humiliated by demands that she remove her clothing in front of male officers, and verbally degraded as though she were a criminal rather than a U.S. citizen traveling home.
- Her 14-year-old son Musa was not spared; guards taunted him with statements like “your American passport means nothing here” and even told him, “you know what we do to kids in Gaza,” in an attempt to terrify and silence him. Despite being a minor, Musa was interrogated, intimidated, and forced to endure long hours of detention with his mother, harassment clearly designed to break their morale.
- Together, mother and son were detained for 12 hours inside Ben Gurion Airport after being denied departure, left in limbo without food, without basic dignity, and without any clarity about their rights or when—if ever—they would be released.
The Connecticut congressional delegation intervened after learning of the situation. U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Waterbury) and her staff worked directly with Israeli officials and intensively with the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem to secure the family’s release. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal also raised the case with senior Israeli authorities and joined Rep. Hayes in formally pressing the State Department.
Rep. Hayes called the resolution “a relief,” emphasizing that “no American family should have to endure the fear and uncertainty they have faced.” Sen. Blumenthal said he was “gratified” that Israel has permitted the family’s return to the U.S.
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: Farhan Memon, Chairman, CAIR-CT, 203-517-6526, fmemon@cair.com