Washington, D.C. | www.mpac.org | October 16, 2023 —The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) urgently demands that the Biden Administration take swift action to address the grave injustices inflicted upon Gazans, and the growing intolerance towards the Muslim and Arab communities in the United States.
It is of the utmost importance that the principles of international law are strictly adhered to and Israel be held accountable for its gross human rights violations, including its continuous bombardment of Gaza, the killing of innocent civilians, and the blockade of water, food, electricity, and aid to the population of over 2 million, half of which are children.
The Biden Administration must take decisive action by imposing necessary conditions and restraints on Israel to ensure their compliance with the Geneva Convention. Reiterating unwavering support for the Israeli government as it takes retaliatory action against the Palestinian people for Hamas’s attacks under the guise of national security is neither just nor humane. In fact, it shows the U.S. government’s selectiveness in human rights agendas. It fuels extreme anti-Muslim animus at home and anti-American sentiment abroad.
The Biden Administration must protect the Gazan civilians suffering at the hands of the Israeli government as well as protect its American Muslim population against retaliatory actions rooted in anti-Muslim animus.
Saturday’s brutal stabbing of 6-year-old Wadea Al-Fayoume, an American Palestinian child, in his home is a direct consequence of the United States’s unrestrained support for Israel and the discriminatory and irresponsible language used by our nation’s leadership and media. This tragic event underscores the urgent need for President Biden to address the nation, and counter the rising hate that led to this innocent child’s murder.
“Hate crimes committed against Muslims are often downplayed or even glorified under the guise of patriotism. This dangerous trend not only perpetuates Islamophobia but also normalizes violence and discrimination against the Muslim community,” said Salam Al-Marayati, President of MPAC.
We call on the Biden Administration to address the bullying and retaliation against Muslim families, students, and employees by providing them with the support and safety to ensure that the American Muslim and Arab communities are not treated as suspects nor continue to suffer from the collective trauma experienced since 9/11.
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