The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, along with its California chapter (CAIR-CA), today condemned the political grandstanding and scapegoating of Afghan nationals and the false and defamatory allegations made against CAIR during a recent Congressional joint subcommittee hearing, calling it part of a broader attack on American Muslims and Muslim-serving organizations, particularly those who support Palestinian human rights.
On Wednesday, Jan. 14, the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary held a joint subcommittee hearing to address former President Joe Biden’s Afghan Parolee Program.
The hearing included a testimony from Julie Marzouk, a fringe anti-Palestinian, anti-Muslim extremist. Marzouk was a founding member of the Intelligent Advocacy Network (IAN), an apparent front group for the Israeli lobby whose primary purpose appears to be smearing critics of the Israeli government.
The organization has posted various conspiracy theories about CAIR and other critics of the Israeli government. The New York Post had to correct an article after it cited a false claim made by the IAN, which falsely claimed that CAIR-CA had raised tens of thousands of dollars for student vandals on college campuses.
Marzouk was invited by members of the subcommittee who have previously espoused Islamophobic rhetoric, including Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO), whose anti-Muslim behavior CAIR has previously condemned, and Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), who has participated in the harmful targeting of Texas’ Muslim population.
During the hearing, Senators Hawley and Cornyn and Marzouk repeated baseless allegations and blatant falsehoods recycled from anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim groups in an attempt to discredit CAIR, including factually inaccurate claims of misused and untraced federal funding.
All three speakers demonstrated a concerning lack of understanding of grant processes and the U.S. immigration process, even going so far as to claim that CAIR’s immigration attorneys are responsible for vetting immigrants—a process that is performed by federal government officials.
Their discordant arguments also referenced Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s politically motivated campaign against the Muslim-led EPIC City Project and Gov. Abbott’s and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ recent defamatory and unconstitutional designations of CAIR as a terrorist organization as “evidence.”
Prior to the hearing, CAIR sent a letter to the subcommittee chairs outlining its California chapter’s immigration work and countering the unsubstantiated allegations against the organization. Earlier this week, CAIR also sent a letter signed by more than 40 organizations in support of CAIR-CA and its service to immigrant communities.
In a statement, CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, Esq., said:
“The legacy of Senator Joseph McCarthy is alive and well in the Senate. Several senators used this committee hearing to spread debunked conspiracy theories and fan the flames of hate against immigrants, refugees, and Americans critical of U.S. foreign policy, especially American Muslims.
“Calling in an anti-Muslim bigot and acolyte of the Israeli government to serve as a witness is bad enough. Letting such an individual spew hate without any pushback is unacceptable.
“We stand in solidarity with the Afghan American community and the Afghan refugee committee, and we applaud CAIR California for the work it has done to serve the people of California, including new Californians establishing a better life for their families.”
In a statement, CAIR-CA CEO Hussam Ayloush said:
“The Joint Subcommittee Hearing was a disgraceful display of political grandstanding meant to demonize vulnerable Afghan immigrants and smear the organizations that serve them. Rather than meaningfully addressing policy or community safety, the hearing was used to disparage CAIR and our long-standing work serving immigrant and refugee communities—particularly the Afghan community—by echoing demonstrably false claims pushed by anti-Muslim and pro-Israel groups.
“These unfounded allegations are part of a larger defamation campaign targeting American Muslims by fringe anti-Muslim groups and individuals, such as Julie Marzouk, who intentionally misrepresent public documents and information to create a false narrative. These individuals have been recycling the same tired and refutable claims about CAIR and CAIR-CA and attempted to weaponize the hearing in a flailing effort to fulfill their anti-Muslim and xenophobic political agenda.
“It’s clear that our work threatens Israel-first politicians and activists who would rather Muslims remain silent and invisible in American society. CAIR-CA is proud of our partnership with the State of California in providing critical services to thousands of immigrant families, and we will not be intimidated by these transparent, politically motivated attacks.”
SEE ALSO:
- CAIR Prays for Full Recovery of National Guardsmen Injured in DC Attack
- CAIR-CA Urges Trump Admin To Lift Ban on Immigration and Visa Processing for Afghan Nationals
CAIR and CAIR-CA call on elected officials to reject fearmongering and the political scapegoating of immigrants and instead focus on constructive policies that uphold America’s commitment to human rights and the dignified treatment of all people.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, (202) 744-7726 or ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, (202) 770-6280 or iallison@cair.com; CAIR Los Angeles Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com; CAIR Los Angeles Senior Communications Coordinator Madi Hameed, mmorse-hameed@cair.com