CAIR condemns Israeli consul general’s remarks, fears rise in hate crimes
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has criticized the Israeli Consul General’s remarks suggesting a “Muslim occupation” threat in New York.
CAIR warned that such false assertions could fuel hate crimes against Muslims and Arab-Americans.
In an interview with the New York Post, Consulate General Ofir Akunis said London, Paris and major cities in Sweden were under radical Muslim occupation.
He asked New Yorkers to wake up before it was too late.
CAIR-NY’s Executive Director Afaf Nasher condemned these remarks, calling them incendiary and urging political and religious leaders to denounce them.
The Muslim advocacy group said these remarks echo debunked conspiracy theories about so-called Muslim “no-go zones”, areas of cities in Western countries where non-Muslims cannot tread.
CAIR said recent assaults on Muslim women and vandalism at a mosque in Brooklyn underscore the real world impact of such rhetoric.
It said it welcomes law enforcement actions against perpetrators of hate crimes, but emphasizes the urgent need to combat discriminatory narratives that endanger public order.
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