The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today thanked a Washington, D.C., area imam, or Islamic religious leader, who renounced his participation in a recent Ramadan iftar (fast breaking) event sponsored by the Israeli embassy.
In a statement published by the Maryland Islamic Action Network (IMAN), Imam Faizul R. Khan of the Islamic Society of the Washington Area (ISWA) in Silver Spring, Maryland, said:
“I was recently asked to lead the prayer at an interfaith iftar, and I accepted the invitation, as I have for many interfaith events over the years. I was never informed that this event was sponsored by the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C. and co-organized by a fringe activist, Anila Ali, who has a history of smearing and feuding with American Muslims who support Palestinian human rights.
“Having been so deceived, I sincerely regret that my participation in this event resulted in the false impression that I would have willingly participated in any activities that could be viewed as endorsing or supporting Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza. Interfaith dialogue should never be used as a tool to whitewash genocide and other crimes against humanity.
“Like the overwhelming majority of American Muslims, and like many people of different faiths and backgrounds from around the world, I unequivocally support the rights, dignity and humanity of Palestinians, and pray for an end to their suffering and the illegal occupation of their land.”
In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter), CAIR said:
“We thank Imam Faizul Khan of the Islamic Society of Washington for clarifying and renouncing his participation in an ‘interfaith iftar’ that was co-sponsored by the Israeli government and meant to ‘faithwash’ its genocide in Gaza.”
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CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062; 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