The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned the abduction by ICE agents of another Columbia University international student because of his anti-genocide, pro-Palestinian activism.
Mohsen Mahdawi, a permanent United States resident and green card holder who emigrated from the illegally-occupied West Bank, was arrested by immigration authorities in Vermont.
SEE: Another Columbia student detained by feds for pro-Palestinian activism, lawyers say
Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) posted online: “Mohsen Mahdawi of White River Junction, Vermont was illegally detained by ICE during what was supposed to be the final step in his citizenship process. Mr. Mahdawi, a legal resident of the US, must be afforded due process under the law and immediately released from detention.”
In a statement, CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:
“We strongly condemn the Trump administration for abducting Mohsen Mahdawi, a lawful permanent resident, because he exercised his constitutional right to criticize the Israeli government’s war crimes.
“By abducting and imprisoning college students for engaging in free speech, the Trump administration is acting like an arm of the Israeli government, which regularly censors free speech and imprisons its critics. We demand the release of Mohsen and every other student who has been wrongly abducted.
“All Americans should be alarmed at the speed of attacks on basic constitutional freedoms of lawful residents in the U.S.”
Earlier today, CAIR demanded that the Trump administration provide proper medical care for Tufts University graduate student Rumeysa Ozturk who was snatched from the street by masked ICE agents apparently because she co-wrote an editorial calling for her school to divest from the Israeli government over its genocide in Gaza.
In March, CAIR’s New York chapter (CAIR-NY), CAIR’s national office and the law firm of Dratel & Lewis announced the filing of a federal lawsuit on behalf of Columbia University students against Columbia University and the Committee on Education and Workforce, U.S. House of Representatives regarding the Congressional request to disclose thousands of student records.
The California chapter of CAIR, along with the California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC), and more than 120 organizations representing community organizers, labor unions, social and legal service providers, faith leaders, and immigration and civil rights organizations, announced a joint letter to more than 50 California legislators urging them to take action regarding the unjust arrests of Columbia anti-genocide activists Mahmoud Khalil and Yunseo Chung.
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