The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today urged all members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee to reject an amendment offered by Rep. Michael Lawler (R-NY) during today’s markup of H.R. 9087 that would revive the controversial International Governmental Organizations (IGO) Anti-Boycott Act, legislation that was pulled from consideration last year following widespread public opposition.
Lawler’s proposed amendment would expand the Anti-Boycott Act of 2018 to criminalize compliance with or support for boycotts promoted by international governmental organizations such as the United Nations. Americans, including individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and advocacy organizations, could face severe civil penalties and criminal liability for participating in or supporting internationally-backed boycott campaigns aimed at holding foreign governments accountable for violations of international law and human rights.
This morning, CAIR sent the following message to every Republican and Democratic member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee:
“We respectfully urge you to oppose Rep. Michael Lawler’s amendment to H.R. 9087, which would amend the Anti-Boycott Act of 2018 to extend federal anti-boycott penalties to actions associated with international governmental organizations (IGOs), including the United Nations. While framed as a measure to combat discrimination against Israel, the amendment raises serious constitutional concerns by threatening First Amendment-protected political expression and advocacy.
“The right to participate in and advocate for boycotts is deeply rooted in American history and has been recognized by the courts as a form of protected political speech. Americans have long used boycotts to advance causes ranging from independence from British rule to civil rights, labor protections, and opposition to apartheid. Expanding federal law to penalize individuals, businesses, or organizations for supporting internationally-backed boycott efforts would chill lawful political activity and set a troubling precedent for government intrusion into constitutionally protected expression.
“This proposal is particularly concerning because it would empower the federal government to investigate and penalize Americans who choose to align themselves with international human rights initiatives or accountability measures endorsed by international bodies. Regardless of one’s views on the underlying political issues, Congress should not establish new mechanisms that punish Americans for exercising their First Amendment rights. We therefore urge you to reject this amendment and uphold the constitutional principles of free speech, free association, and political advocacy.”
CAIR noted that grassroots opposition helped force House leadership to withdraw the stand-alone version of the legislation last year after thousands of Americans contacted Congress to express concern that the proposal would criminalize peaceful political advocacy and undermine the constitutional right to boycott. CAIR warned that reviving the measure through the amendment process would once again threaten free speech rights and chill advocacy for Palestinian human rights and other international justice causes.
Last year, CAIR publicly opposed the Anti-IGO Boycott Act, stating: “These congressional attacks are not about security or hate prevention. They are about silencing dissent, punishing Palestinian rights advocates, and giving the government unchecked power to target nonprofits and activists based on politics, not facts. These congressional attacks represent an authoritarian attempt to erode First Amendment rights under the false pretense of combating extremism.”
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com