(WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/3/23) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today thanked the White House for hosting a listening session on Islamophobia with Muslim community organizations and reiterated its call for the Biden Administration to address the unconstitutional watchlist and its impact on American Muslims, including Mayor Mohamed Khairullah.
On Tuesday, CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert S. McCaw joined representatives of other national Muslim organizations for a special White House listening session on American Muslim domestic priorities, including concerns related to Islamophobia.
SEE: White House Readout of Listening Session on Islamophobia
White House officials in attendance included Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, Director of the Domestic Policy Council Ambassador Susan Rice, Senior Advisor and Director of the Office of Public Engagement Mayor Stephen Benjamin, and Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Homeland Security Advisor Dr. Joshua Geltzer, and White House Senior Advisor & Liaison to Muslim Communities Mazen M. Basrawi.
In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert S. McCaw said:
“We commend President Biden and the White House staff for hosting a listening session on Islamophobia and other important policy issues with American Muslim organizations.
“This meeting was a valuable opportunity for American Muslims to present policy proposals related to promoting Muslim inclusion in the federal government, addressing civil liberty concerns, reporting hate crimes, countering Islamophobia, and other critical issues.
“We hope the White House will implement the proposals American Muslim leaders presented, starting by reigning in the watchlist system and righting the wrong done to Mayor Mohamed Khairullah.”
During the meeting, CAIR reiterated its long-standing concerns about the unconstitutional and discriminatory federal watchlist. CAIR specifically called on the White House to fulfill President Biden’s campaign pledge to initiate a DHS review of the watchlist and no-fly-list and improve the processes to remove names.
CAIR also highlighted the Secret Service’s revoking of New Jersey Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah’s invitation to the White House’s Eid al Fitr-celebration as an example of the harm caused by the watchlist.
CAIR concluded by calling for evidence-based, rather than identity-based, non-discriminatory security solutions that provide due process protections consistent with our nation’s laws and values.
On Monday, the day before the White House listening session, CAIR National Board Member Spojmie Nasiri, Esq., CAIR Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, Esq., CAIR Director of Government Affairs Department Robert McCaw, and CAIR New York Executive Director Afaf Nasher, Esq. attended the White House’s Eid al Fitr-celebration. The event included a Quran recitation in the East Room of the White House and remarks by President Biden.
During the event, CAIR directly expressed concern to White House staff about the Secret Service’s decision to abruptly revoke the invitation of New Jersey Mayor Khairullah and encouraged the White House to intervene to resolve the issue.
PHOTO: CAIR Leaders Attend White House Eid Event
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, [email protected]; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected], CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]