Greater Los Angeles AreaAugust 29, 2012

 

CAIR Says Assembly Resolution Stifles Discussion on California Campuses

 
(SACRAMENTO, CA, 8/29/12) -- The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA), along with nine community, legal, and student organizations, sent a letter to lawmakers in the state about House Resolution 35, which passed in the California Assembly yesterday, because it stifles robust political debate on university campuses. The letter urges lawmakers to reconsider the issue when they reconvene in January. 
 
CAIR: Calif Lawmakers Denounce Anti-Semitism in Colleges (AP)
 
HR 35 calls upon California college campuses to adopt the recommendations in the Report on Campus Climate for Jewish students, which has been subjected to widespread criticism for its potential threat to students' civil rights.
 
Text of HR 35

Letter to lawmakers 
 
The letter states in part: "Though cloaked as a resolution condemning anti-Semitism, the actual goal of HR 35 is to stifle geopolitical debates in academic and university settings. Nobody should hesitate to condemn anti-Jewish expression no matter the context in which it arises. But this resolution characterizes criticism of Israel generally as "cloaked" anti-Semitism. By HR 35's logic, Presidents Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama, and George H. W. Bush, and organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International are all anti-Semitic because they have at times criticized Israeli policies. This politically motivated definition of anti-Semitism lacks any basis and does a tremendous disservice to the fight against real anti-Semitism. It is no more anti-Semitic to criticize Israel than it is anti-Muslim to criticize Saudi Arabia."
 
SEE: Human Rights Advocacy is Not Hate Speech
 

U.C. report on Jewish campus climate: Results marginalize, misrepresent students critical of Israel 
 
 
UC report on anti-Semitism draws ire
 
 
CAIR-Sacramento's Civil Rights Coordinator Rachel Roberts said: "This resolution will do nothing to stop anti-Semitism, but it will stop the discussions college students must be allowed to have to analyze and form opinions on international issues."
 
HR 35 was passed in less than one month's time, while California students were out of session for the summer. "Lawmakers were not given a full picture of the complexities of this issue and voted thinking they were merely condemning anti-Semitism," said CAIR-LA Government Relations Coordinator Adel Syed. "Since the legislature is so busy, it is easy to miss the enormous constitutional problems with resolutions like HR 35."
 
CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. 

 

- END -

 
CONTACT: CAIR-LA Government Relations Coordinator Adel Syed, 714.776.1847, E-Mail: asyed@cair.com; CAIR-Sacramento Civil Rights Coordinator Rachel Roberts, 916.441.6269, 408.986.9874, E-Mail: rroberts@cair.com;  CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202.744.7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com

 

 

CAIR-LA

 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

 

Asem Abusir, MBA 
President 
Baraa Kahf, Esq
  Vice President

Amana Siddiqi 

Secretary

Yasir Mahar 

Treasurer

Shamel Abd-Allah, MD
Hafez M. Hafez
Omar Jubran
Shereen Sabet, PhD

    Deeba Sultani  

 

        
 STAFF

Hussam Ayloush
Executive Director 

Ameena Mirza Qazi 
Deputy Executive Director/Staff Attorney

Adeeb Ahmad
  Field Organizer   
 
Atif Butt  
Programs Coordinator 

Fatima Dadabhoy 
Civil Rights Attorney 
 
  Sherrel Johnson 
Community Relations Manager

Asim Khan  
Multimedia Specialist 

Nour Kweider

Membership Specialist 


Cecilia Peralta 

Membership & Administrative Coordinator

  
Arefa Simjee
Membership Specialist

Adel Syed
Government Relations Coordinator

   

Munira Syeda

Communications Manager



CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

 
 
Council on American-Islamic Relations, Greater Los Angeles Area
2180 W. Crescent Ave., Suite F, Anaheim, CA 92801
Phone: 714-776-1847 Fax: 714-776-8340 E-mail: info@losangeles.cair.com