The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on the Trump administration to demand that Palestinian Christians be granted freedom of worship on Easter as Israeli occupation forces reportedly “transformed” Jerusalem into “a military zone, erecting checkpoints throughout the area” leading to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and obstructing the movement of worshipers.
Wafa reports that the Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Vatican representative to the State of Palestine, Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, were detained at checkpoints and denied access to the church.
Palestinians Christians in Gaza are also targeted by Israel’s genocidal bombing campaign.
In a statement, CAIR said:
“Our government must demand that Israel allow Palestinian Christians to mark Easter free of restrictions, bombings, arrests, blockades, and harassment by its occupation forces. The Trump administration must not remain silent as Israel tramples on the religious rights of Palestinian Christians and Muslims.”
Washington, D.C., based CAIR added that Muslims honor and revere the Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and that the Quran, Islam’s revealed text, states:
“Behold! The angels said: ‘O Mary! God giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him. His name will be Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and in (the company of) those nearest to God.’” (Quran, 3:45)
Last week, CAIR said Israel’s burning alive and forced starvation of children in Gaza is a “stain on humanity that will haunt generations to come.”
CAIR also called on U.S. and international media to finally speak out against Israel’s intentional targeting of journalists in Gaza after a Palestinian journalist and 10 members of her family were slaughtered in an Israeli air strike.
That attack came as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) says Gaza has become a “mass grave” for Palestinians and those helping them. An investigation by Al Jazeera has also documented Israel’s war crimes in Gaza.
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, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com