Civil rights group also welcomes amendments noting that criticism of Zionism and Israeli policies are not antisemitic
(BALTIMORE, MD, 11/1/2022) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today responded to the passage by Maryland’s Montgomery County Council of a resolution defining antisemitism, calling it “flawed and divisive.”
The Montgomery County Council passed the resolution after several months of delay resulting from pushback due to the resolution’s use of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. The IHRA definition, whose author cautioned against its use in legal capacities, conflates criticism of Zionism and the state of Israel with antisemitism. In response to concerns that the resolution would lead to the stifling of free speech, councilors added amendments noting that criticism of Zionism and Israeli policies are not antisemitic. However, the IHRA definition is listed as an “educational tool.”
Yesterday, CAIR participated in a news conference with interfaith partners to call on lawmakers to reject the IHRA definition.
Video: CAIR Remarks at Interfaith News Conference Opposing Divisive IHRA Definition of Antisemitism
Montgomery County Council passes antisemitism resolution amid pushback
https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/11/01/montgomery-council-resolution-antisemitism/
NGOs call for rejection of IHRA’s anti-Semitism definition in US county
https://english.alaraby.co.uk/news/ngos-reject-anti-semitism-definition-us-county
In a statement, CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry said:
“Antisemitism deserves to be condemned without conflating it with opposition to a foreign government guilty of human rights abuses – particularly not one like Israel that is under investigation by the U.N. for charges of apartheid.
“The amended resolution that Montgomery County passed today is an improvement over the original version because it clarifies that the controversial IHRA definition is not legally binding and notes that criticism of Zionism, the Israeli government or its actions are not antisemitic. However, it risks exacerbating bigotry and hate because it still contains the deeply divisive IHRA definition as an ‘educational tool’ and was rushed through for a vote by the council in an undemocratic process without the opportunity for public input. Today’s vote is not a victory for anyone.”
BACKGROUNDER:
Since July, the Montgomery County Council has been negotiating a resolution that would pull language from and affirm the anti-Palestinian IHRA definition of antisemitism, which harmfully conflates criticism of Zionism and the state of Israel with antisemitism. Due to the contentious and divisive nature of the resolution, the Council has received hundreds of emails and calls from concerned community members calling for a public hearing while expressing opposition to this dangerous definition that silences and censors Palestinians.
In July, the Council removed the IHRA resolution from the agenda due to intense community pushback and hundreds of emails sent in three days. The current revised version of the original resolution is now on the agenda for the Tuesday, November 1st Council meeting.
Discussions have taken place at the Council behind closed doors which have excluded Palestinian residents of our county, who will be the most impacted by the adoption of this harmful resolution. The relevant legislative history concerning the revisions to the resolution and feedback from Palestinian residents have been excluded from the staff packet for the current resolution, underscoring how undemocratic and non-transparent the process has been.
The Council President has refused to schedule a public hearing to allow for open and democratic discussion. By holding a press conference on October 31st, members of the community coalition will be sharing updates to its campaign and hearing from community members impacted by the proposed resolution.
The resolution encourages the Police Department to create a tracking mechanism that targets students, teachers, county employees, and community members for political speech, and could lead to withholding of Title XI federal funds due to a 2019 Trump Executive Order, which similarly supports the harmful IHRA definition.
The press conference will include speakers from Maryland 2 Palestine, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Jewish Voice for Peace– DC Metro Chapter, Muslim Voices Coalition, Peace Action Montgomery, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination, and other organizations, as well as students, educators and community members.
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 Office in Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062