Muslim civil rights group condemns ‘Draconian’ Police Raid on Family Home of Palestinian- American Students
(WASHINGTON D.C., 12/4/24) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned a “draconian” police raid on the family home of two Palestinian-American students at George Mason University who participated in anti-genocide events on campus and demanded that the university rescind its “draconian” measures targeting the students.
According to The Intercept: “In the early morning hours of November 7, more than 12 police officers showed up outside at an address in Springfield, Virginia, knocked, broke down the door, and raided the family home of two Palestinian American students at George Mason University.
“University and Fairfax County police refused to show the family the warrant. One Fairfax County detective with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force — cross-designated as a local and federal agent — was also present. The family and Mason faculty supporting them, however, believe they know what the FBI-led investigation was about: the young family members’ pro-Palestine activism.
“Two of the Palestinian American family’s daughters attend George Mason. One is an undergraduate student and the co-president of Mason’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine. The other is in a master’s program at Mason and a former president of the school’s SJP chapter…
“In short order, the school’s SJP chapter was suspended. Soon after, George Mason Police Chief Carl Rowan Jr. served the sisters with criminal trespass notices barring them from campus for four years — meaning that they can no longer continue their education.”
“Such alleged draconian measures used by law enforcement authorities fit a pattern nationwide of attempts to silence or intimidate those who seek to end the Israeli genocide in Gaza and the Biden administration’s complicity with that genocide,” said CAIR Research and Advocacy Director Corey Saylor. “The reported refusal to show a search warrant is a giant red flag, as are reports that the students were suspended without any accusations of civil or student violations. Finally, such a raid for allegedly spray-painting property raises reasonable questions about what is happening. Unless George Mason administration has decided anti-genocide viewpoints require treatment outside normal due process, these measures should be rescinded.”
Last month, CAIR designated the University of Chicago (UChicago) and Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania as “Institutions of Particular Concern” for targeting anti-genocide protestors and creating a hostile environment by repressing free speech on campus.
Hostile campuses designated as “institutions of particular concern” previously by CAIR include GWU, UCLA, Emory University, Columbia University, UT Austin, NYU, Northwestern University, Pomona College, U-Mich, and UGA.
In May, CAIR released ‘Hostile’: How Universities Target Anti-Genocide Protesters, detailing unprecedented efforts across the country to suppress students from advocating for Palestinians.
In August, CAIR launched its Unhostile Campus Campaign, a project aimed at fostering a campus environment where Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, Jewish, and other students, faculty, and staff opposing the genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza enjoy free speech and academic freedom and are not subjected to state force or university discipline due to their viewpoints.
CAIR has filed lawsuits in Maryland and Texas, challenging extensive efforts to shut down anti-genocide protests and advocacy for Palestinian rights throughout the country.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: 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; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com