Today, the Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) called on the Maryland State Board of Elections to remove an Israeli flag that appears to be hung inside a polling station in Montgomery County, Maryland.
According to complaints received by CAIR, a voter in Rockville went to their polling place, Neighborhood Church, and reportedly observed the flag hanging inside.
“It is unconscionable that the flag of a foreign government actively committing genocide is displayed at any polling place during U.S. elections,” said CAIR’s Maryland director Zainab Chaudry. “This could be viewed as an act of voter intimidation targeting Muslim and Arab-American voters. Houses of worship and other sites serving as polling locations should avoid placing any political symbols in the view of voters.”
She noted that earlier this year, CAIR welcomed an apology by a Virginia election official for an incident in which a large Israeli flag was hung directly above a voting machine in a polling station in Alexandria, Virginia.
The civil rights group is urging state and county election boards to immediately investigate these reports.
CAIR is also urging the community to report any form of suppression or intimidation they experience or observe while voting by emailing mdoutreach@cair.com.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062; CAIR Maryland Outreach Coordinator Kim Syuardi, ksyuardi@cair.com, 202-850-9293