(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/14/22) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed reports that the FBI will investigate the murder of American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by the Israeli military.
Media reports indicate that the DOJ informed the Israeli Justice Ministry that the FBI has opened an investigation into the killing of Abu Akleh. At the time of Abu Akleh’s killing, CAIR called on the Biden administration to direct the FBI to launch just such an investigation. Israel says it will not cooperate with the probe.
Sources: FBI Opened Investigation Into Killing of Shireen Abu Akleh
https://www.axios.com/2022/11/14/fbi-investigation-shireen-abu-akleh-israel-military
At that time, CAIR called on the Biden administration to direct the FBI to launch just such an investigation.
In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw said:
“We welcome this long-delayed investigation and hope our nation will finally hold Israel accountable for its violence targeting American citizens, journalists and other civilians in the territories it occupies illegally. Violence is the inevitable result of Israel’s apartheid policies, human rights abuses and continuing occupation of Palestinian land.”
McCaw added CAIR thanks the many members of Congress who continued to pressed the Biden administration and FBI to investigate Akleh’s murder, including Representative Andre Carson (D-IN) who announced the Justice For Shireen Act.
SEE: Rep. Carson Announces Justice For Shireen Act
https://carson.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rep-carson-announces-justice-for-shireen-act
SEE: CAIR Welcomes Congressional Demand for FBI Probe of Israel’s Assassination of Palestinian-American Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh
In September, CAIR applauded U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and other members of the committee, for introducing a legislative reporting requirement instructing the State Department to conduct an “independent, credible, and transparent investigation into the shooting death of Palestinian-American citizen and journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.”
Also that month, CAIR condemned the State Department’s “shameful refusal” to hold the Israeli government accountable for murdering Akleh following its “welcoming” the Israeli military’s report that concluded there was a “high probability” that an Israeli soldier unintentionally killed her during a raid in the West Bank.
While the Israeli military knows the identity of Abu Akleh’s murderer, it has said that no one would be investigated or punished for her killing.
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