June 10, 2024 (Hartford) — The Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT) has issued an urgent call to Connecticut’s congressional representatives to oppose the recent invitation extended to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak before Congress. In a letter sent today, CAIR-CT Chairman Farhan Memon emphasized the detrimental impact of Netanyahu’s actions on U.S. interests and global reputation.
In the letter, Memon stated, “Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly humiliated President Biden and the United States on the international stage, demonstrating a blatant disregard for our nation’s principles and interests. His actions and rhetoric pose a significant threat to America’s global image as a beacon of democracy and human rights, as well as our strategic interests. Attending his speech sends a dangerous message that undermines our nation’s commitment to peace, justice, and human dignity.”
The letter also highlights Netanyahu’s opposition to the two-state solution, his detrimental policies towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the ongoing investigations by international courts into his alleged war crimes. CAIR-CT underscores the importance of upholding human rights and justice, values that the U.S. stands for, and urges representatives to reflect these values by not attending Netanyahu’s speech.
Farhan Memon further stated, “An invitation to address Congress is a high honor, and our country’s prestige is diminished when a suspected war criminal is treated with honor by your presence. We call on all congressional leaders to take a stand for peace, justice, and human dignity by opposing this invitation and issuing a statement to that effect.”
The full text of the letter is included as an attachment to this press release.
Attachment: Letter to Congressional Leaders from CAIR-CT Chairman Farhan Memon (June 10, 2024)
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
Contact: Farhan Memon, Chairman, CAIR-CT at fmemon@cair.com OR Hassan Awwad, Operations Director, at CAIR-CT at hawwad@cair.com