The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and its Florida chapter (CAIR-FL), today joined 102 rights groups to call on Secretary of State Marco Rubio to secure the release of Sama Safi, a U.S. citizen who has been illegally held in Israeli detention since June.
More than 100 faith-based and civil society groups are calling on US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to fulfill one of his department’s top obligations—protecting the security of US citizens abroad—by securing the “immediate release” of 20-year-old Sama Safi, an American psychology student who was violently detained by armed Israeli soldiers in the West Bank 77 days ago and has been held in a military prison ever since. Sama Safi is 20 years old and has family in Tampa.
In a statement, CAIR and its Florida chapter (CAIR-Florida) said:
“An American citizen was illegally abducted and detained by a foreign military. She has been subjected to abject conditions in the prisons of a foreign country. Every American lawmaker and official should be up in arms over this blatant crime. We call on Secretary Rubio to secure Sama Safi’s immediate release from Israeli detention and hold the Israeli government to account.”
SEE: Sana Safi, a Palestinian-American with ties to Tampa is still detained by Israel – WMNF 88.5 FM
CAIR and CAIR-Florida previously called on Americans to immediately urge their members of Congress to demand the release of Sama Safi.
SEE: ACT NOW: MSG Congress: Sama Safi faces an Israeli military court hearing on Monday, July 27
CAIR and CAIR-Florida also commended U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) for his strong stance demanding the immediate release of Sama Safi.
CAIR-California previously welcomed a statement from Representative Derek Tran (D-CA) calling for the release of Sama Safi.
SEE: CAIR-CA Welcomes Rep. Derek Tran’s Call for Release of American Woman Kidnapped by Israel
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, [email protected]; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]