(COLUMBUS, OH – 12/11/23) — The Ohio Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio), today, held a press conference calling on Ohio elected officials to take immediate action to end the ongoing genocide in Gaza, an atrocity further fueled by U.S. tax dollars.
The press conference, attended by local citizens impacted by the crisis, community leaders, and members of the media, highlighted the intensification of violence and human rights abuses in Palestine over the past two months, escalating to what CAIR-Ohio, according to human rights and genocide experts, unequivocally described as genocide. The organization emphasized the role of elected officials in exacerbating and endorsing this crisis, emphasizing that it is funded by the U.S. government.
Addressing the devastating statistics, CAIR-Ohio called for an urgent ceasefire to halt the genocide inflicted by Israel, which has resulted in the devastating loss of over 17,973 civilians, including at least 7,729 children, leaving more than 48,780 injured and at least 7,780 missing.
The impact on Ohio Muslims and the broader community was a key focus, with CAIR-Ohio reporting a staggering 290 incident reports and requests for assistance in the past two months, higher than all of reports 2022. The surge includes alarming instances of heightened surveillance and intimidation of Muslims, particularly young professionals and student activists, by the FBI and local law enforcement agencies.
The following statements were made by speakers at the press conference:
Amina Barhumi, CAIR-Ohio Executive Director:
“As we stand here today, the crisis in Palestine continues unabated, with heartbreaking reports of increased casualties, displacement, and destruction.
“We are at a critical juncture where the United States government, who has funded and enabled this genocide and occupation, must take a strong stance and with its citizens who are demanding a ceasefire along with the rest of the international community. Disturbingly, we are witnessing a troubling situation unfold, with the U.S. invoking its veto power, hindering the path to end the violence.”
Amy Schuster, Jewish Voice for Peace – Central Ohio Chapter:
“Never Again: I come here today to bear witness to the violence and harassment being experienced by the people in Gaza, the West Bank, and in our community–and to remind us of the need to Never Again let genocide occur without criticism. I do not want my grief for the people who experienced a violent assault on October 7 to be turned into fuel for ethnic cleansing.”
Mahmoud Algharabi, Community Member:
“My oldest sister remains in middle of Gaza..for the past three days, she hasn’t had a complete full meal, running out of money with no food available to buy even if she has the cash. Her concern is not for herself but to make enough breast milk for her infant, Ahmed, also to get enough food for her other three hungry children.
“My brother, youngest sister, and their families are with my mother in Rafah. They’ve run out of money for at least five weeks. I’ve been sending what I can, but hyperinflation has made basic items unaffordable. Like the price of salt went from around 35 cents to $10 in less than 2 months.
“Long story short, my family is going through a catastrophic situation where if they don’t get killed by this genocide, they will be killed by diseases, hunger or thirst.”
Rosan Eldadah, Community Member
“Today I am here to unveil the profound impact it has on the lives of individuals within your community on a daily basis. I have personally lost 6 family members from a targeted attack by the IDF. This is the brutal truth, and the harsh reality of this genocide. My family’s story is one among millions of others, each story worse than the last.”
Mohammed Mubarak, Students for Justice in Palestine at OSU Co-President:
“Although it is nothing new for those living in the West Bank to fear night raids of our homes and unlawful detainment, conditions have gotten much worse in the past two months since October 7. And unfortunately, this violence has impacted my family as well.
“Today, I want to introduce you to two of my cousins, my neighbors and my childhood playmates: Abdelghani Fares Hamed and Barra Hamed. They are both 20 years old, and intelligent college students at Birzeit University. Barraa is majoring in electrical engineering, and Abdelghani is majoring in political science and is an active leader of their undergraduate student government.
“They were abducted from their homes in the middle of the night, blindfolded and beaten. Their whereabouts remain uncertain, and we have no idea whether they are healthy, and we are desperately seeking answers.”
Daoud Al-Akhras, Student Activist at The Ohio State University
“How much longer can we preach that the United States and its institutions uphold their democratic values, while I am witnessing the most brutal forms of censorship today. Government elected officials should not be able to weigh in on their opinion on how student organizations conduct their operations or suggest that they should be removed from the university on truly baseless claims, if these groups are being targeted in an undemocratic manner, how should one expect student activists to place their faith in the advertised democratic system.”
Mazen Rasoul, Esq, Local Attorney & Activist:
“As U.S. citizens, as Palestinian Americans, and as people who are against the killing of any human beings, we can on every American to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people calling for an immediate ceasefire, as a first step towards ending the Israeli occupation and apartheid system.”
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, with three offices in Ohio – Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland. The organization is dedicated to enhancing understanding of Islam, protecting civil rights, promoting justice, and empowering American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Ohio, Cincinnati & Columbus Executive Director Amina Barhumi: abarhumi@cair.com | 614-763-6557
