The Muslim Legal Fund of America’s chairman has a history of anti-Semitic comments
Hatem Bazian (palestineconvention.org)
The Biden administration has launched a civil rights investigation into anti-Muslim incidents at Harvard University. This investigation comes in response to a complaint from the Muslim Legal Fund of America, a controversial legal fund that has represented convicted terrorists and promoted anti-Semitic rhetoric.
The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has initiated the investigation based on the Muslim Legal Fund of America’s claim that Muslim and Arab students at Harvard have faced discrimination for participating in anti-Israel protests on campus.
Hatem Bazian, the chairman of the Muslim Legal Fund of America, has a troubling history. He has called for an “intifada” against the United States and spread false claims about the Israeli government harvesting organs from Palestinians. Bazian is also the founder of Students of Justice for Palestine, an anti-Israel group that has defended Hamas at protests across the country. In fact, members of the group’s George Washington University chapter projected the pro-Hamas phrase “glory to our martyrs” onto the school’s library. The group’s national chapter even organized a “day of resistance” in support of Hamas just one day after a terrorist attack that claimed the lives of over 1,000 Israelis.
The Muslim Legal Fund of America, established after 9/11, has raised funds and provided legal defense for Islamic terrorists involved in major terrorism cases. The group supported and represented the “Holy Land Five,” officials from an Islamic relief charity who were convicted of funding Hamas.
The fund also provided representation for Aafia Siddiqui, known as ”Lady Al Qaeda,” due to her connections to the terrorist group. Siddiqui, who expressed her bias against ”Zionist Jews” during her trial, was sentenced to 86 years in prison for attempted murder and other charges.
Sami al-Arian, a Florida professor who pleaded guilty to raising money for the terrorist group Palestinian Islamic Jihad, received financial assistance from the fund for his legal expenses. The group praised al-Arian as a “leading champion” of Muslim-American civil rights and portrayed him as a victim of an “overzealous government.”
The Muslim Legal Fund of America also represented Hafiz Khan, a Miami imam convicted in 2013 for funding the Pakistani Taliban. The fund claimed, as part of a fundraising campaign for Khan, that he was arrested for “educating children.”
The Department of Education’s investigation into Harvard comes as President Joe Biden seeks to address concerns from Muslim voters regarding his handling of the Gaza war. Biden’s campaign manager, Julie Chávez Rodriguez, recently visited Dearborn, Michigan, which is home to the largest Muslim community in the country. During her visit, she met with Osama Siblani, an influential leader in Dearborn who has referred to Hamas as “freedom fighters” and nicknamed Biden “Genocide Joe.”
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has also met with other Muslim activists who have expressed support for terrorist groups. In November, he met with Lina Assi, an official from the group Palestine Legal, to discuss anti-Muslim activities on college campuses. Assi has called for an “intifada” and praised the terrorist group Hezbollah as “crucial and important,” according to the Washington Free Beacon.
The Department of Education has declined to comment on ongoing civil rights investigations.
How can the Biden administration ensure a fair and unbiased investigation into the alleged anti-Muslim incidents at Harvard while scrutinizing the motives and potential biases of the Muslim Legal Fund of America and its chairman
Mic charity convicted of funneling money to Hamas. It has also defended members of the notorious terrorist group, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
The involvement of the Muslim Legal Fund of America in advocating for the rights of Muslim and Arab students at Harvard is concerning, given its track record of supporting terrorists and promoting anti-Semitism. While it is important to protect the civil rights of all individuals, it is equally important to ensure that organizations with questionable motives are not able to manipulate the system for their own agenda.
The fact that Hatem Bazian, the chairman of the Muslim Legal Fund of America, is leading the charge in this investigation raises serious questions about the administration’s vetting process. It is imperative that individuals with a history of promoting hate speech and supporting terrorism should not be given platforms to represent marginalized communities.
This is not the first time that universities have faced allegations of discrimination against Muslim students based on their involvement in anti-Israel activities. The Department of Education has previously investigated similar complaints at Rutgers University, Columbia University, and the University of California, Irvine.
While the investigation at Harvard is necessary to address any potential violations of civil rights, it is crucial that the underlying motives of the Muslim Legal Fund of America and its representatives are thoroughly examined. Organizations that support terrorism and disseminate hate speech should not be permitted to use civil rights as a cover for their true agenda.
It is essential for the Biden administration to ensure that the Office for Civil Rights conducts a fair and unbiased investigation into the alleged anti-Muslim incidents at Harvard. At the same time, it must also scrutinize the Muslim Legal Fund of America and its chairman, Hatem Bazian, to determine their true intentions and potential biases. The principles of civil rights should not be used as a shield for organizations and individuals with ulterior motives.
If it is found that the Muslim Legal Fund of America and Hatem Bazian are indeed using this investigation to further an anti-Israel agenda, it would not only undermine the credibility of the investigation but also perpetuate a divisive and harmful narrative that is counterproductive to peace and coexistence.
The Biden administration must be diligent in its efforts to safeguard the civil rights of all individuals, including Muslim and Arab students at Harvard. However, it must also be cautious not to inadvertently support organizations that have a proven history of supporting terrorism and promoting hate speech. A thorough and impartial scrutiny of the Muslim Legal Fund of America and its chairman is necessary to ensure that the investigation remains fair and unbiased.
Addressing discrimination and ensuring civil rights requires a nuanced approach that upholds the principles of justice and equality for all. It is crucial that we do not inadvertently support extremist ideologies and individuals who seek to undermine these principles under the guise of civil rights advocacy.
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