The Maryland office of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) not to preside over the scheduled address to Congress by “war criminal” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu due to his far-right government’s genocide in Gaza.
The Washington, D.C. based civil rights group is calling on Senator Cardin to rescind his commitment to preside over Netanyahu’s address and instead denounce Israel’s genocide, call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and justice for the Palestinian people.
Israel has already slaughtered almost 40,000 people, mostly women and children in Gaza, and destroyed much of the civilian infrastructure in a campaign of ethnic cleansing, forced starvation and genocide.
Netanyahu has traveled to Washington, D.C. to address the United States Congress following the International Court of Justice’s recent determination that Israel’s settlement policies and exploitation of natural resources in the occupied Palestinian territories is unlawful and must end. CAIR welcomed that ruling by the World Court.
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“It is deeply troubling that Senator Cardin would choose to lend legitimacy and support to a war criminal who is responsible for egregious violations of human rights and international law,” said CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry. “Instead of providing a respectable platform to a war criminal engaged in the wholesale slaughter of possibly more than 186,000 civilians, Senator Cardin and members of Congress must set an example, stand on principle and boycott Netanyahu’s address. By doing so, they would send a clear message that the United States stands against impunity for human rights abuses and violations of international law, regardless of the perpetrator.”
She noted that the International Criminal Court (ICC) is expected to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant within weeks.
Last week, CAIR condemned a threat by House Speaker Mike Johnson to arrest lawmakers who protest far-right Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress next week.
CAIR issued and action alert for Americans to call on members of Congress to boycott or protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to a joint session of Congress on July 24th due to his openly racist views, genocidal war crimes, disrespect for the United States, and opposition to a Palestinian state.
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 Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com