The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for the dropping of charges against demonstrators at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., peacefully protesting Israel’s torture and abuse of Palestinian detainees.
The protest was organized by a grassroots Palestinian-led human rights group on Eid in response to the Israeli bombing of Palestinians on the Eid holiday and the inability of thousands of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons without due process, unable to celebrate the holiday with their families. The charges reportedly include “Crowding, Obstructing, or Incommoding, Resisting Arrest, and U.S. Capitol – Sleep/Lie Down, Paved/Improved Areas (anytime).”
In a statement, CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:
“We call on law enforcement authorities to immediately release the protesters who were detained after holding an anti-torture demonstration and then unnecessarily held overnight on the false charge of resisting arrest. According to eyewitness reporters and video footage of the events, the protestors were completely peaceful and complied with law enforcement during their arrests.
“We applaud the Americans who kneeled on the U.S. Capitol to reflect on the detention without trial and abuse of Palestinians in Israeli prisons, and the torture and sexual abuse Israel inflicted upon human rights activists kidnapped from the Gaza aid flotilla. These protesters are heroes, not criminals. They should go free and all charges against them should be dropped.”
He added that earlier today, CAIR welcomed reports that the United Nations has added Israel to its list of parties committing sexual violence in conflict zones, citing allegations involving Israeli forces and prison authorities against Palestinians.
Mitchell noted that Washington, D.C., based CAIR recently called on Congress and the Trump administration to take immediate action after a New York Times report detailed horrifying allegations of widespread sexual abuse, rape, torture, and humiliation of Palestinians held in Israeli detention facilities.
CAIR also recently called on Congress and the Trump administration to act following allegations that activists on a humanitarian aid flotilla to Gaza kidnapped in international waters by Israel were subjected to sexual assault, violence and rape while in detention.
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 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]