The national headquarters and Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on the White House and members of Congress to demand the release of Abdalkareem Issa Ahmed Safi, a 19-year-old American citizen with roots in Texas who has been held hostage in an Israeli prison known for torture for almost four months without facing any criminal charges.
“It should be unacceptable to the White House and Congress for the Israeli government to continue kidnapping Americans and disappearing them into prisons known for torture, all without any criminal charges or other due process,” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. “The Trump administration has a legal and moral obligation to protect American citizens overseas, especially from rogue governments funded by American taxpayer dollars. We urge Congress to exercise its oversight authority and demand that the State Department secure Abdalkareem’s swift and safe release.”
According to a report published by Zeteo, then-18-year-old Safi was kidnapped from his family home in the occupied West Bank in June by the Israeli military is being held under “secret evidence” as part of Israel’s administrative detention policies:
“Days after snatching Safi, Israeli authorities issued an administrative detention order against him, based on information not disclosed to his lawyer or family. Administrative detention is a mechanism under which Israel imprisons people without charge or trial, typically based on secret evidence. Now, Safi is being held at Ofer prison, where Palestinians have been subject to regular beatings, massively overcrowded cells, humiliation, constant shackling, and severe hunger. In August, Safi was moved from the children’s section to an adult area. His detention order expires on Oct. 28 – which would be a more than four-month stint in prison, with no allegations made public. His family fears Israel could renew the detention indefinitely, as it does for many prisoners.”
CAIR noted that earlier this week, CAIR welcomed the historic support from nearly half of the United States Senate for a resolution introduced by Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) that would have required the U.S. Department of State to produce a comprehensive report investigating the killings of American citizens in the occupied West Bank and detailing human rights practices by Israeli forces and government-backed illegal settlers.
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-Texas, Austin Director Shaimaa Zayan, [email protected]; Sameeha Rizvi, CAIR-Texas Government Affairs and Legislative Manager, [email protected]; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, [email protected]; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]