The UAE detained Ghafoor, an American citizen, while he was traveling en route to Istanbul
(WASHINGTON D.C., 7/16/2022) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today joined Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) in calling on the Biden administration to demand that the United Arab Emirates immediately release Asim Ghafoor, a Virginia civil rights attorney who represented murdered Washington Post writer Jamal Khashoggi.
DAWN said in a statement that Ghafoor was detained Thursday on “politically motivated” charges at Dubai airport while transiting to Istanbul to attend a family wedding. Ghafoor says that he has no previous knowledge of any legal action against him. The pro-democracy human rights organization noted: “UAE officials routinely use the country’s legal system to intimidate, persecute, and punish its critics.”
American officials say they are aware of Ghafoor’s detention but did not say whether President Joe Biden raised the issue with the UAE president when they met on the sidelines of the summit in Saudi Arabia.
In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“This is what happens when our nation embraces authoritarian governments while ignoring their crimes against journalists, human rights activists and political dissidents.
“President Biden must clearly and publicly demand that the UAE immediately release Asim Ghafoor, an American citizen, attorney and widely respected civil rights activist who represented Jamal Khashoggi before the journalist’s murder.
“Like other Americans held hostage by authoritarian governments for advocating justice around the world, Mr. Ghafoor must have the full support of his own government.”
Awad noted that last month, CAIR joined Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN) for the unveiling of a new street sign for “Jamal Khashoggi Way” outside of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C.
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 Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com