The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, is calling on Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Attorney General Pam Bondi to launch a full U.S. investigation into the killing of Florida resident and U.S. citizen Sayfollah (“Saif”) Musallet, who was reportedly beaten to death on July 11 by a mob of illegal Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
READ CAIR’S LETTER: CLICK HERE
In a formal letter delivered yesterday, CAIR urged the U.S. government to exercise its clear legal authority under federal law and existing treaties to investigate the killing and ensure accountability. The letter cites:
- 18 U.S.C. § 2332(a), which grants the U.S. jurisdiction to prosecute the murder of American nationals abroad; and
- 18 U.S.C. § 2332(b), which authorizes prosecution of conspiracies and violent acts committed overseas by foreign actors against U.S. citizens.
CAIR also called on federal officials to invoke the U.S.-Israel Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) to secure evidence, compel cooperation, and move toward real accountability in the case.
The U.S. Ambassador to Israel stated on social media that he has “asked @Israel to aggressively investigate the murder of Saif Musallet.” While CAIR agrees with his statement that “there must be accountability for this criminal and terrorist act,” the organization strongly rejects the notion that Israel should lead the investigation. Israeli authorities have a well-documented and disturbing record of shielding settlers and soldiers from accountability, even in cases involving the killing of American citizens. The United States must conduct its own independent investigation.
CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert S. McCaw said:
“Saif Musallet was a 20-year-old American citizen, born and raised in Florida. He was brutally beaten to death by a mob of illegal Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. His family said Israeli forces stood by as settlers blocked paramedics from reaching him for nearly three hours. This was a heinous crime enabled by Israeli military complicity. The U.S. government has both the authority and the obligation to act. American citizenship must mean something—no matter where you are, or who kills you.”
In addition to its letter to the State and Justice Departments, CAIR is mobilizing public pressure through a nationwide grassroots campaign. The organization has launched a public Action Alert urging Americans to contact their members of Congress and demand immediate action.
CLICK HERE: CAIR Action Alert: Tell Congress to Condemn Israel’s Latest Murder of American Citizen
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