The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said the raising of a banner by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) stating “Stop Killing Children. Stop Killing Civilians” during a match in Udine, Italy, shows that the “dam of genocide denial is breaking worldwide.”
Nine children refugees from Palestine, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Iraq carried the banner onto the field of play before the game began. The raising of this banner by UEFA comes in the wake of heavy fallout over its meek tribute to Palestinian player Suleiman al-Obeid, who was killed by Israel. The tribute failed to mention the circumstances of his death or those responsible.
CAIR called on UEFA, European football’s governing body, to clearly state who murdered al-Obeid, and to state how and why he was murdered.
SEE: CAIR Calls on UEFA to Clearly State Who Murdered Palestinian Soccer Star Suleiman al-Obeid
In a statement, CAIR said:
“The dam of genocide denial is breaking all across the world as more institutions, governments and leaders are seeking to distance themselves from the genocidal Israeli government. The unfurling of this banner is a good step, but ultimately condemning a crime without condemning the criminal is not enough. The Israeli government is the killer of children and civilians and must be recognized as such. The world must also move beyond rhetoric to take concrete actions to stop Israel’s genocide.”
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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