Drop Emgage due to alliances with anti-Palestinian, anti-Muslim Zionist organizations
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 (Muslim Leadership Initiative) 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:
- Founder and Board Member Farooq Mitha, who also serves as Joe Biden’s Muslim Engagement Advisor, has boasted to former employees that he is or was a member of AIPAC and has attended AIPAC events. He also worked at the Pentagon during the Obama administration, helping to normalize ties between Israel and Arab nations under the banner of “Track II diplomacy.”
- Emgage CEO Wael Alzayat served as an “expert” at (AIPAC founded) WINEP. He also currently serves on the Muslim-Jewish Advisory Council, a project of the AJC and ISNA (Islamic Society of North America). He also partnered with the ADL on a joint letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Finally, even after Emgage’s recent claims of an alleged policy from 2018 to no longer attend MLI, Alzayat, in December 2019, partnered with the Shalom Hartman Institute and the ADL to launch yet another faithwashing initiative.
- Emgage Founder and Co-Chair Khurrum Wahid attended MLI in 2015. He sits on the Civil Rights Committee of the ADL in Miami, where he has served for at least ten years. Along with Mitha, he also hosted a fundraiser in 2010 for former Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Miami-area Republican and one of the most far-right supporters of Israel in Congress.
- Emgage Texas Executive Director Nabila Mansoor attended MLI and has partnered with the ADL in Texas. Mansoor also gave a talk at South by Southwest (SXSW) with a panel including the Alumni Director for MLI, Maital Friedman, where they talk about the benefits of MLI.
- In 2018, Emgage National Co-Chair AJ Durrani was given an award by the ADL in Houston. Durrani and Emgage Texas Board Member Farrukh Shamsi attended MLI together as well.
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.
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,
- Noura Erakat, Jadaliyya
- Rabab Abdulhadi, PhD, Director and Senior Scholar, Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas Studies, San Francisco State University
- Susan Abulhawa, US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel
- Laila El-Haddad, Author
- Amani Barakat, Al-Awda Palestinian Right to Return Coalition
- Amer Zahr, New Generation for Palestine, President
- Lamis J. Deek, Human Rights Attorney, NLG, Al-Awda, NY4Palestine
- Samia Assed, 2020 DNC National Delegate – NM
- Ghiyath Alazzah, Palestinian Youth Movement
- Hebh Jamal, Community Member
- Carmel Abuzaid, Palestinian Youth Movement
- Murad Sarama, Democrats for Justice in Palestine, Chairman
- Mazen Naser, Palestine Solidarity Arizona
- Dina Sayed Ahmed, Amnesty International and WNYC
- Khaled Abou El Fadl, PhD, UCLA School of Law
- Osama Mor, Palestinian Youth Movement – Atlanta
- Nura Bawab, The Palestinian Solidarity Committee, Austin, TX
- Zainab Khan, Palestinian Youth Movement – Atlanta
- Nerdeen Kiswani, Within Our Lifetime – United for Palestine
- Leena Al-Arian, Coalition for Civil Freedoms, Executive Director
- Mohammad Fadel, University of Toronto Faculty of Law
- Lara Kiswani, Arab Resource & Organizing Center (AROC), Executive Director
- Haithem El-Zabri, Palestine Online Store
- Wafic Faour, Vtjp Vermonters for Justice in Palestine
- Amer Kheiry, New Generation for Palestine, Member
- Lubna Hammad, Yalla Indivisible
- Hafsa Kanjwal, Academic
- Khair Assaf, New Generation for Palestine
- Jonathan AC Brown, Georgetown University
- Azadeh Shahshahani, Project South, National Lawyers Guild
- Sam Hindi, Foster City, CA Councilmember, 2020 DNC National Delegate – CA
- Bader Risheg, AMP/AlKhalil Charitable Association – Teacher/Activist
- Nader Hashemi, University of Denver, Georgetown University
- Sahar Ghumkhor, PhD, University of Melbourne, Academic
- Muneeza Rizvi, UC Davis Department of Anthropology
- Yahya Birt, Community Member
- Cyrus McGoldrick, Community Member
- Fahd Ahmed, DRUM – Desis Rising Up & Moving, Executive Director
- Ayman Khafaji, Progressive Caucus of the Michigan Democratic Party, Vice Chair
- Fatima Mojaddidy, Muslim Anti-Racist Action Collective
- Mohammad Abou-Ghazala, Palestine Youth Movement
- Sarwat Husain, Co-Chair American Muslim Democratic Caucus-National (AMDC National)
- Aamir Ali, Physicist – UC Berkeley
- Barakat Saleh, Arab Americans of Central Ohio
- Rabyaah Althaibani, Founder Arab Women’s Voice
- Paul Noursi, Virginia Coalition for Human Rights
- John Hsu, Our Revolution Middlesex County NJ Chair
- Sofia Saiyed, Muslim Anti-Racist Action Collective
- Eman Abdelaziz, PACC
- Aftab Siddiqui, American Muslim Democratic Caucus, 2020 DNC National Delegate – TX
- Fatin Jarara, Al-Awda NY/Palestinian Youth Movement NY
- Mike Enayah, NGP
- Monadel Herzallah, USPCN
- Mazhar Syed, Human Rights Advocate
- Talal Khairi, Muslims4Bernie
- Sana Qutubuddin, Political Organizer/Activist
- Rachelle Mehdi, University of Michigan
- May Seikaly, New Generation Palestine
- Wally Yazbak, ADC GA Chapter President
- Manal Hussain, NGP
- Mercedes Schuppe, Community Member
- Iyad Afalqa, President, California Democratic Council
- Ramzy Baroud, Journalist
- Sameena Usman, 2020 DNC National Delegate – CA
- El-Hajj Mauri Saalakhan, The Aafia Foundation
- Manzoor Cheema, Project South
- Nazim Uddin, 2020 DNC National Delegate – NC
- Syed Hasan, American Muslim Democratic Caucus, 2020 DNC National Delegate – TX
- Mustafaa Carroll, American Muslim Democratic Caucus
- Imran Shareef, American Muslim Democratic Caucus
- Imran Salha, Imam and Faith Leader
- Ahmed Bedier, 2016 DNC National Delegate – FL
- Sarwat Malik-Hassan, Progressive Organizer and Activist
- Ayesha Mughal, Central Jersey Democratic Socialists of America, Co-Chair
- Fatima Mughal, Central Jersey Democratic Socialists of America
- Syed Raheel Hassan, Attending Physician
- Hamzah Raza, Journalist
- Aliyah Khan, NoVA Democratic Socialists of America, Member
- Cyra Akila Choudhury, FIU Law
- Olivia Cantu, Mustino Times, Executive Director
- Sofia Ahsan, Muslims4Bernie
- Farrah Ahsan, Muslims4Bernie Volunteer
- Naushaba Saher, Muslims4Bernie Volunteer
- Naeem Raja, Coalition of Americans for Political and Social Awareness
- Mohamad Almasry, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies
- Hannah Rajah, Muslims4Bernie Volunteer
- Mo Nehad, Community Member
- Sana Din, Muslim Women Kreate
- Karen Bernal, California Democratic Party
- Thahitun Mariam, Progressive Bangladeshi-American Activist and Organizer
- Naseer Alam, IASJ
- Mohammad Abbasi, CAPSA
- Mo Ray-Zac, Muslims4Bernie
- Moe Bal, ME Peace Action
- Kareem Youssef, USPCN
- Professor Mohd Nazari Ismail, University of Malaya
- Hussein Beydoun, Organizer, Activist
- Tarek Younis, Middlesex University
- Tasnim Sammak, PhD Candidate, Monash
- Yusuf Yenikomsu, Independent Carfo Worker
- Susan Smith, Fellowship of Reconciliation, USA
- Faran Kharal, Muslim American Society
- Amir Manraj, Wiley Rein
- Bounechada Nourelyakine, Physician
- Mariya Mujahid, SBernie 2020 Organizer
- Eddie Edwards, Attorney
- Yahya Khan Sultan, NLC – NJ, DSA – North Jersey
- Asma Elhuni, Rights and Democracy NH
- Mujeeb Khan, Policy Coordinator- Muslim Voters of America
- Nadia Ahsan, Muslims4Bernie2020 – Volunteer
- Lara Kiswani, Arab Resource & Organizing Center (AROC), Executive Director
- Salem Sarsour, ISM
- Mo Nehad, Candidate for Constable, Fort Bend County, TX
- Haroon Rashid, Community Member
- Clara O’Malley, Community Member
- Celine Qussiny, Community Member
- Ayman Khader, Community Member
- Kawthar Abdullah, Community Member
- Rafi Aziz, Community Member
- Wardeh Abdelmuti, Community Member
- Zuhdi Masri, Community Member
- Tareq Salem, Community Member
- Shabana Irshad, Community Member
- Sulaiman Hyatt, Community Member
- Asim Khan, Community Member
- Mohammed A. Soussi, Community Member
- Rafi Sohail, Community Member
- Anna Berg, Community Member
- Saba Ali, Community Member
- Nadia Noor, Community Member
- Osama Helmy, Community Member
- Nasser Alkhateeb, Community Member
- Heba Ibrahim, Community Member
- Joe Milburn, Community Member
- Irtiza Hasan, Community Member
- Syed M Ilyas, Community Member
- Syed Ahmed, Community Member
- Michel Bahbah, Community Member
- Mohammad Sarwar, Community Member
- Aslam Abdullah, Imam
- Anisa Noormohamed, University of Chicago
- Muzaffar Hussain, Community Member
- Qurat Mir, Community Member
- Mohammad Kapadia, Community Member
- Qaiser Bashir, University of Texas
- Sabiha Wadoo, Community Member
- Ammar Bashiti, Senior Finance Director
- Safina Sofi, Community Member
- Fathia Shawish, Palestinian
- Zahoor Shah, Community Member
- Farooque Rizmy, Community Member
- Louis Semaan, Community Member
- Zeeshan Hussein, Activist
- Mohammad Ansari, Community Member
- Fatima Fazili, Academic
- Zahi Abdein, Community Member
- Laila Kassis, Community Member
- Naeela Baksh, Manna Community CIC
- Muadh Khan, Community Member
- Abdullah Abdul Majid, Student
- Aidan Ali, HSI
- Suzanne Nobel, McGill University Hispanic Studies
- Atharunnisa Saifuddin, Community Member
- Maha Yousef, Community Member
- Khalida Wani, Community Member
- Ashley Young, Community Member
- Akmal Ahmed, Dentist
- Aber Kawas, Community Member
- Yasmeen Azam, Community Member
- Iskander Abbasi, Community Member
- Imaan Javeed, Community Member
- Sirad Hassan, Student
- Majed Ajameyeh, Mr
- Nadia Twam, Palestinian
- Nasser Sukhon, Md
- Abeer Fraihat, Community Member
- Ahmed Shraim, Community Member
- Shahid Jamil, Concerned Citizen
- Mohamed Saam, Mr.
- George Makhlouf, V. Rev. Fr.
- Samer Siam, Activist
- Minhaal Randerwala, Activist
- Rania Bitar, Digital Marketing Manager
- S. Hasan Kamal, Concerned Muslim American
- Amani Zoghbi, Academic/Researcher
- Hafsa Chaudhary, Dr.
- M. J. Khan, Former Houston City Councilman
- Kamal Hasan, MD
- Siraj Mohammed, Activist
- Farhana Motala, Personal Capacity
- Hammoudah Hammoudah, VA
- Abeer Minhas, Community Member
- Huma Minhas, Ms
- Hadi Ali, Independent
- Habib Sayyed, IAMC
- Khalid Omar, Solo Artist
- Anan Zahr, Phil Community Activist
- Nadia Amer, Concerned Citizen
- Shazad Ibnul, Concerned Muslim
- Tarek Alsmoudi, Mr
- Omar Tawil, Imam
- Vivian Khalaf, Attorney
- Ali Rida, Community Member
- Barbora Weberova, Community Member
- Mohamad Okal, Community Member
- Ameer Fare, Community Member
- Talha Maqsood, Community Member
- Sulayman Ferguson, Concerned Muslim
- Syed Raheemullah, Community Activist
- Senan Shaq, USPC Board Member
- Nida Ali, Dr
- Muhammed Malik, Former CAIR-South Florida, Former GP International Committee
- Olivia Vita, Community Member
- Omer Arain, Labor Researcher and Activist
- Jamal El-Mokadem, Community Member
- Sultan AbouHamdan, Community Member
- Danya Reda, Muslims4Bernie
- Bassem Saleh, NGP
- Bahtiyar Yilmaz, Physician
- Tareq Omar, Community Member
- Fawzia Khan, Ms
- Nisreen Zeidan, Community Member
- Azhar Raina, Community Member
- Sabina Wildman, Labor Organizer
- Samer Husein, Concerned American
- Frida Isachsen, Community Member
- Urooj Rahman, Community Member
- Mohammad Alam, Community Member
- Shariq Mohammad, Community Member
- Maryum Khwaja, Community Member
- Mariam El-Khatib, Community Member
- Yafa Samaha, Community Member
- Malak Samaha, Community Member
- Nathaniel Mathews, Concerned Citizen
- May Zegar, Dr
- Amna Mallick, PD
- Farhana Kara Motala, Human Rights Activist
- Farrah Sutriono, Muslim Women Kreate
- Saba Refai, Community Member
- Reza Subhani, None
- Amna Ahmed, Community Member
- Sara Bawany, Community Member
- Imani Oakley, Community Member
- Osman Athar, Physician
- Sama Alshaibi, Professor, School of Art, University of Arizona
- Mazen Khawaja, New School for Social Research
- Shahla Wahid, Community Member
- Dr. Sabha Abour, Researcher
- Hatem Natsheh, 2020 DNC Delegate
- Anwaar Huk, Community Organizer
- Noor Kesbeh, Community Member