The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today welcomed a statement from Representative Derek Tran (D-CA) calling for the release of Sama Safi, a 20-year-old American citizen and student who was kidnapped by the Israeli military earlier this month in the illegally occupied West Bank and is being held without charges.
SEE: US lawmaker calls Israeli detention of Palestinian American student ‘disturbing’
In a statementposted to social media, Rep. Tran wrote in part:
“This is part of a disturbing pattern of the Israeli government denying Palestinians their basic due process rights, often at risk to their health and safety. The United States has a responsibility to protect its citizens abroad, and we must hold our allies to basic standards of equal justice under the law. I am urging Secretary Rubio and the Trump Administration to use every diplomatic tool available to bring Sama home safely.”
In a statement, CAIR-CA CEO Hussam Ayloush said:
“We welcome Rep. Tran’s principled call for the immediate release of Sama Safi from Israeli prison and urge every member of Congress to act with urgency and speak out against her unlawful detention. There is no excuse for the U.S. to remain silent while an American citizen is detained, denied due process, and held without charges by a foreign state. No one should be abandoned by their own government when their fundamental rights are violated abroad.”
Earlier this month, CAIR’s national office and its Florida chapter (CAIR-FL) issued a joint statement commending U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) for his strong stance demanding Safi’s immediate release. The organization also called on all Americans to urge their members of Congress to join Sen. Van Hollen in demanding her release.
CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR Greater Los Angeles Area Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com; CAIR Sacramento Valley/Central California Communications Director Zaid Hisham, (916) 441-6269, zhisham@cair.com; CAIR San Diego Executive Director Tazheen Nizam, (760) 201-7626, tnizam@cair.com; CAIR San Francisco Bay Area Communications Manager Lorrie Adam, (408) 498-5779, ladam@cair.com