The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and its San Francisco Bay Area office (CAIR-SFBA) today condemned the killing by an illegal Israeli settler of Palestinian human rights activist Awdah Hathaleen, who was recently denied entry to the U.S. and who helped film “No Other Land” documentary highlighting Israel’s apartheid occupation of the West Bank.
SEE: Activist Who Helped Film “No Other Land” Shot and Killed by Israeli Settler
In June, CAIR-SFBA expressed appreciation to Reps. John Garamendi, Jared Huffman, Ro Khanna, Sam Liccardo, Zoe Lofgren, Kevin Mullin, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, Lateefah Simon, Eric Swalwell, and Mike Thompson for issuing a joint statement condemning his denial of entry to the United States at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).
In a statement, CAIR-SFBA Executive Director Zahra Billoo said:
“We are heartbroken and outraged by the killing of Awdah Hathaleen, a teacher and activist whose only crime was defending his family and land. His death is a devastating reminder of the escalating Israeli settler violence and unchecked impunity faced by Palestinians every day.
“We mourn alongside his family and the Bay Area communities who had hoped to hear his story firsthand. The U.S. government must be held accountable—not only for denying entry to Hathaleen when he sought to speak truth to power here, but also for continuing to fund and shield a regime that enables this violence.
“We demand justice for Awdah and all Palestinians who continue to live and die under occupation.”
In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw said:
“Awdah Hathaleen came to the U.S. to warn us about settler violence and land theft in the West Bank and the genocide unfolding in Gaza. He came to speak about Israeli apartheid backed by U.S. weapons and political cover. Instead of listening, our government silenced him. His visa was revoked; he was detained and deported because his story exposed our complicity with genocide. Now he’s been killed by an Israeli settler. We didn’t just turn him away. We sent him back to die.”
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
Earlier today, CAIR welcomed the recognition of the Israeli government’s genocide in Gaza by two prominent Israeli human rights organizations.
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-SFBA Communications Manager Lorrie Adam, 408.498.5779, ladam@cair.com; 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