Open Letter to Muslim Leaders

An open letter to Muslim leaders to drop Emgage due to alliances with anti-Palestinian, anti-Muslim organizations

(To become a signatory of this open letter, please fill out the form at the bottom of the page)

Leaders at Emgage have repeatedly disregarded the legitimate interests of Muslim communities in the United States to the detriment of the constituencies they claim to represent.

According to recent reporting, many high-ranking members of Emgage, including board members, chairs, founders, and the CEO, as well as the organization itself, have worked in lockstep with AIPAC, the Muslim Leadership Initiative (MLI), the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the American Jewish Committee (AJC), and the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP).

One need not list how AIPAC engages in deep Islamophobic and anti-Palestinian activity.

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP) was founded by AIPAC leaders and has consistently defended Israeli policies.

The ADL boasts that it “has always been a strong voice for Israel,” denouncing BDS as anti-Semitic and justifying Israeli crimes. Its long history of suppression of movements for social justice and attacking communities of color extends beyond Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian smear campaigns to engaging in deadly exchange programs between American police forces and Israel. These ADL-sponsored programs promote expanded surveillance, racial profiling, and the suppression of public protests through the use of force. Dozens of progressive groups, representing Palestinians, Jews, and African Americans, have urged all peoples to sever ties with the ADL.

MLI is a propaganda-laden trip to Israel sponsored by the Jerusalem-based Shalom Hartman Institute, which works closely with the Israeli military and is funded by the Russell Berrie Foundation, a funder of notorious Islamophobes Steve Emerson and Daniel Pipes.

The AJC brags that it “advocates for Israel at the highest levels.” It also denounces the BDS movement, dedicating an entire section of its website to these efforts.

Notable Emgage Involvement with Zionist Orgtanizations:

As an illustration of Emgage’s harmful political activity, after the Joe Biden campaign issued a public disavowal of Palestinian-Muslim-American DNC National Delegate Linda Sarsour, Wahid and Mitha sought to obtain concessions in the form of more appointments in the Biden campaign and/or transition team in lieu of a public apology. Such an apology was the specific demand of Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim American leaders and activists.

Palestinians have been nearly unanimous in their calls urging all people to reject interacting with any of the above groups, as such activity serves to normalize Israeli aggressions against the Palestinian people.

Despite a recent statement by Emgage expressing support for BDS and the Palestinian right of return, we have witnessed no accountability or public apology from the organization for the above-cited litany of harmful actions.

Therefore, we call on Emgage to formally end its current normalization activities, coupled with a pledge to refrain from such future activities in accordance with BDS principles.  Additionally, we call on Emgage to issue a statement denouncing Zionism as a racist ideology.

In light of all of the above, we call on all organizations and individuals to drop any affiliations with Emgage in the absence of such assurances and statements.

Accordingly, we further assert that Farooq Mitha, Joe Biden’s “Muslim Engagement Advisor,” does not represent the views or will of our communities.

We urge all people of conscience to no longer tolerate unprincipled leadership threatening our community and undermining the voices of grassroots Muslim and Palestinian activists.

Signed,
*Organizational affiliations listed for identification purposes only
* Scroll to the bottom to become a signatory of this letter.

255 signatures on this open letter to date.

255 Noura Erakat Jadaliyya
254 Samia Assed 2020 DNC National Delegate - NM
253 Amer Zahr New Generation for Palestine, President
252 Khaled Abou El Fadl, PhD UCLA School of Law
251 Susan Abulhawa US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel
250 Rabab Abdulhadi, PhD Director and Senior Scholar, Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Studies, San Francisco State University
249 Sam Hindi Foster City, CA Councilmember, 2020 DNC National Delegate - CA
248 Iyad Afalqa President, California Democratic Council (CDC, Executive Board Member, California Democratic Party), 2016 DNC National Delegate - CA
247 Leena Al-Arian Coalition for Civil Freedoms, Executive Director
246 Amani Barakat Al-Awda Palestinian Right to Return Coalition
245 Lamis J. Deek Human Rights Attorney, NLG, Al-Awda, NY4Palestine
244 Laila El-Haddad Author
243 Ramzy Baroud Journalist
242 Ghiyath Alazzah Palestinian Youth Movement
241 Carmel Abuzaid Palestinian Youth Movement
240 Murad Sarama Democrats for Justice in Palestine, Chairman
239 Nader Hashemi University of Denver
238 Lara Kiswani Arab Resource & Organizing Center (AROC), Executive Director
237 Jonathan AC Brown Georgetown University
236 Mazen Naser Palestine Solidarity Arizona
235 Sameena Usman 2020 DNC National Delegate - CA
234 Osama Mor Palestinian Youth Movement - Atlanta
233 Nura Bawab The Palestinian Solidarity Committee, Austin, TX
232 Azadeh Shahshahani Project South, National Lawyers Guild
231 Zainab Khan Palestinian Youth Movement - Atlanta
230 El-Hajj Mauri Saalakhan The Aafia Foundation
229 Manzoor Cheema Project South
228 Nazim Uddin 2020 DNC National Delegate - NC
227 Nadia Ahmad 2020 DNC National Delegate - FL
226 Mohammad Fadel University of Toronto Faculty of Law
225 Aftab Siddiqui American Muslim Democratic Caucus, 2020 DNC National Delegate - TX
224 Syed Hasan American Muslim Democratic Caucus, 2020 DNC National Delegate - TX
223 Mustafaa Carroll American Muslim Democratic Caucus
222 Imran Shareef American Muslim Democratic Caucus
221 Imran Salha Imam and Faith Leader
220 Ahmed Bedier United Voices for America, President, 2016 DNC National Delegate - FL
219 Aftab Siddiqui American Muslim Democratic Caucus, 2020 DNC National Delegate - TX
218 Syed Hasan American Muslim Democratic Caucus, 2020 DNC National Delegate - TX
217 Mustafaa Carroll American Muslim Democratic Caucus
216 Imran Shareef American Muslim Democratic Caucus
215 Sarwat Malik-Hassan Progressive Organizer and Activist
214 Ayesha Mughal Central Jersey Democratic Socialists of America, Co-Chair
213 Fatima Mughal Central Jersey Democratic Socialists of America
212 Syed Raheel Hassan Attending Physician
211 Hamzah Raza Journalist
210 Sahar Ghumkhor, PhD University of Melbourne, Academic
209 Aliyah Khan NoVA Democratic Socialists of America, Member
208 Lubna Hammad Yalla Indivisible
207 Cyra Akila Choudhury FIU Law
206 Olivia Cantu Mustino Times, Executive Director
205 Dina Sayed Ahmed Amnesty International and WNYC
204 Sofia Ahsan Muslims4Bernie
203 Farrah Ahsan Muslims4Bernie Volunteer
202 Naushaba Saher Muslims4Bernie Volunteer
201 Muneeza Rizvi UC Davis Department of Anthropology
200 Naeem Raja Coalition of Americans for Political and Social Awareness
199 Mohamad Almasry Doha Institute for Graduate Studies
198 Hannah Rajah Muslims4Bernie Volunteer
197 Mo Nehad Mo Nehad for People
196 Sana Din Muslim Women Kreate
195 Karen Bernal California Democratic Party
194 Thahitun Mariam Progressive Bangladeshi-American Activist and Organizer
193 Naseer Alam IASJ
192 Mohammad Abbasi CAPSA
191 Mo Ray-Zac Muslims4Bernie
190 Moe Bal ME Peace Action
189 Kareem Youssef USPCN
188 Professor Mohd Nazari Ismail University of Malaya
187 Hussein Beydoun Organizer, Activist
186 Tarek Younis Middlesex University
185 Tasnim Sammak PhD Candidate, Monash
184 Yusuf Yenikomsu independent Carfo worker
183 Nerdeen Kiswani Within our Lifetime - United for Palestine
182 Haithem El-Zabri Palestine Online Store
181 Susan Smith Fellowship of Reconciliation, USA
180 Bader Risheg AMP/AlKhalil Charitable Association - Teacher/Activist
179 Hafsa Kanjwal Academic
178 Faran Kharal Muslim American Society
177 Amir Manraj Wiley Rein
176 Bounechada Nourelyakine Physician
175 Mariya Mujahid Student/Bernie 2020 Organizer
174 Eddie Edwards Attorney
173 Rachelle Mehdi University of Michigan (student)
172 Yahya Khan Sultan NLC - NJ, DSA - North Jersey
171 Asma Elhuni Rights and Democracy NH
170 Mujeeb Khan Policy Coordinator- Muslim Voters of America
169 Wafic Faour Vtjp Vermonters for Justice in Palestine
168 Nadia Ahsan Muslims4Bernie2020 - volunteer
167 Talal Khairi Muslims4Bernie Volunteer
166 Lara Kiswani Arab Resource & Organizing Center (AROC), Executive Director
165 Salem Sarsour ISM
164 Mo Nehad Candidate for Constable, Fort Bend County, tX
163 Haroon Rashid Community Member
162 Clara O’Malley Community Member
161 Celine Qussiny Community Member
160 Ayman Khader Community Member
159 Hebh Jamal Community Member
158 Kawthar Abdullah Community Member
157 Rafi Aziz Community Member
156 Wardeh Abdelmuti Community Member
155 Zuhdi Masri Community Member
154 Tareq Salem Community Member
153 Yahya Birt Community Member
152 Shabana Irshad Community Member
151 Sulaiman Hyatt Community Member
150 Asim Khan Community Member
149 Mohammed A. Soussi Community Member
148 Rafi Sohail Community Member
147 Anna Berg Community Member
146 Saba Ali Community Member
145 Nadia Noor Community Member
144 Osama Helmy Community Member
143 Nasser Alkhateeb Community Member
142 Heba Ibrahim Community Member
141 Joe Milburn Community Member
140 Irtiza Hasan Community Member
139 Syed M Ilyas Community Member
138 Syed Ahmed Community Member
137 Michel Bahbah Community Member
136 Mohammad Sarwar Community Member
135 Aslam Abdullah Imam
134 Anisa Noormohamed University of Chicago
133 Amer Kheiry New Generation for Palestine, Member
132 Muzaffar Hussain Community Member
131 Qurat Mir Community Member
130 Mohammad Kapadia Community Member
129 Qaiser Bashir University of Texas
128 Sabiha Wadoo Community Member
127 Ammar Bashiti Senior Finance Director
126 Fahd Ahmed DRUM - Desis Rising Up & Moving, Executive Director
125 Ayman Khafaji Former Vice chair of the Progressive Caucus of the Michigan Democratic Party
124 Safina Sofi Community Member
123 Fathia Shawish Palestinian
122 Zahoor Shah Community Member
121 Farooque Rizmy Community Member
120 Louis Semaan Community Member
119 Zeeshan Hussein Activist
118 Mohammad Ansari Community Member
117 Fatima Fazili Academic
116 Zahi Abdein Community Member
115 Laila Kassis Community Member
114 Cyrus McGoldrick Community Member
113 Naeela Baksh Manna Community CIC
112 Muadh Khan Community Member
111 Abdullah Abdul Majid Student
110 Aidan Ali HSI
109 Suzanne Nobel McGill University Hispanic Studies
108 Atharunnisa Saifuddin Community Member
107 Aamir Ali Physicist - UC Berkeley
106 Maha Yousef Homemaker
105 Khalida Wani Community Member
104 Sana Qutubuddin Political organizer/activist
103 Ashley Young Community member
102 Akmal Ahmed Dentist
101 Aber Kawas Community Member
100 Yasmeen Azam Community Member
99 yasmeen azam Community Member
98 Iskander Abbasi Community Member
97 Mazhar Syed Paralegal; Human Rights Advocate
96 Imaan Javeed Community Member
95 Sirad Hassan Student
94 Mike Enayah NGP
93 Khair Assaf New Generation for Palestine
92 May Seikaly NGP
91 Majed Ajameyeh Mr
90 Nadia Twam Palestinian
89 Wally Yazbak Sr. IT Consultants, NGP Member & ADC GA Chapter President
88 Nasser Sukhon Md
87 Abeer Fraihat Community Member
86 Manal Hussain NGP
85 Ahmed Shraim Me.
84 Shahid Jamil Concerned Citizen
83 Mohamed Saam Mr.
82 Shahid Jamil Concerned Citizen
81 George Makhlouf V. Rev. Fr.
80 Samer Siam Na
79 Minhaal Randerwala Activist
78 rania bitar Digital Marketing Manager
77 S. Hasan Kamal Concerned Muslim American
76 Amani Zoghbi Academic/Researcher
75 Hafsa Chaudhary Dr.
74 M. J. Khan Former Houston City Councilman
73 Kamal Hasan MD
72 Siraj Mohammed Activist
71 Farhana Motala Personal capacity
70 Hammoudah Hammoudah VA
69 Barakat Saleh Arab Americans of central Ohio
68 Abeer Minhas Community Member
67 Huma Minhas Ms
66 Hadi Ali independent
65 Habib Sayyed IAMC
64 Khalid Omar Solo Artist
63 anan zahr Phil community activist
62 Rabyaah Althaibani Founder Arab Women’s Voice
61 Fatima Mojaddidy Muslim Anti-Racist Action Collective
60 Sofia Saiyed Muslim Anti-Racist Action Collective
59 Nadia Amer Concerned Citizen
58 Mohammad Abou-Ghazala Palestine Youth Movement
57 Shazad Ibnul Concerned Muslim
56 Tarek Alsmoudi Mr
55 Omar Tawil Imam
54 Vivian Khalaf Attorney
53 Ali Rida Entrepreneur
52 Barbora Weberova -
51 Mohamad Okal Mr
50 Ameer Fare Community Member
49 Talha Maqsood Community member
48 Sulayman Ferguson Concerned Muslim
47 Syed Raheemullah Community activist
46 Senan shaq USPC board member
45 Nida Ali Dr
44 Muhammed Malik Fmr CAIR-South Florida Executive Director, Fmr Florida delegate to GP International Committee
43 Olivia Vita -
42 Omer Arain Labor researcher and activist
41 Jamal El-Mokadem Community Member
40 Sultan AbouHamdan Community Member
39 Danya Reda Muslims4Bernie
38 Bassem Saleh NGP
37 Paul Noursi Virginia Coalition for Human Rights
36 Eman Abdelaziz PACC
35 Bahtiyar Yilmaz Physician
34 Tareq Omar Community member
33 Fawzia Khan Ms
32 Rulla M Attorney
31 Nisreen Zeidan Community Member
30 Azhar Raina Mr
29 Sabina Wildman Labor Organizer
28 Samer Husein concerned American
27 Frida Isachsen Community Member
26 Urooj Rahman Community Member
25 Mohammad alam Community Member
24 Shariq Mohammad Community Member
23 Maryum Khwaja Community member
22 Mariam El-Khatib Community Member
21 Yafa Samaha Community Member
20 Malak Samaha community member
19 Nathaniel Mathews concerned citizen
18 Sarwat Husain Co-Chair American Muslim Democratic Caucus-National (AMDC National)
17 May Zegar Dr
16 Amna Mallick PD
15 Farhana Kara Motala Human Rights Activist
14 Farrah Sutriono Muslim Women Kreate
13 Saba Refai community member
12 Reza Subhani None
11 Amna Ahmed Community member
10 Sara Bawany Community member
9 Imani Oakley Community Member
8 Osman Athar Physician
7 John Hsu Our Revolution Middlesex County NJ Chair
6 Sama Alshaibi Professor, School of Art, University of Arizona
5 Mazen Khawaja New School for Social Research
4 Shahla Wahid Ms
3 Dr. Sabha Abour Researcher
2 Hanieh Jodat Activist
1 Fatin Jarara Al-Awda NY/Palestinian Youth Movement NY

Call to Muslim Leaders to Drop Emgage

255 signatures