(ANAHEIM, CA, 7/25/2014) Today, the Greater Los Angeles area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) sent letters to the Civil Rights Division of the US Department of Justice (USDOJ) and the Central District of California’s US Attorney’s Office calling on them to investigate shots fired at four pro-Palestinian supporter by a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officer during a rally on July 13. CAIR-LA also sent a letter to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office requesting dismissal of the assault with a deadly weapon charges against the men.
Mohammed Elkhatib, Fadi Obeidallah, Hassan Kriedeh, and Mostafa Hafez were in their truck on Wilshire Boulevard en route to a Pro-Palestinian demonstration when pro-Israeli protesters approached their truck in the middle of the road and stole their Palestinian flag. The pro-Israeli protesters threw the flag to the street and proceeded to stomp on it. When the men attempted to retrieve their flag, they were physically attacked. They took necessary action to protect themselves and immediately after retrieving the flag, the men returned to their vehicle. An officer with the Federal Protective Service, an agency under DHS, shot at the men after they had recovered their property and returned to their vehicle.
The men were detained by Los Angeles Police moments later. They were detained for almost five hours in LAPD custody and arrested later that evening by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department who took over jurisdiction.
“These men were the victims of a federal officer who opened fire on them so it is ludicrous that the victims of the incident are the ones being charged with a crime,” said Fatima Dadabhoy, CAIR-LA Senior Civil Rights Attorney. “Prosecution of this case will send the message that pro-Palestinian supporters are not protected in the exercise of their First Amendment activities.
The civil rights group is also concerned about the nature of the government’s investigation into the officer shooting. It is calling on the Civil Rights Division of the US Department of Justice and the US Attorneys’ Office of the Central District of California to investigate the shooting.
“It’s important that the government conduct a transparent investigation into the shooting and we call on the agencies to ensure that the first amendment rights of all parties to this incident be protected,” said Dadabhoy.
In addition to the investigation of the shooting, CAIR-LA is requesting that the Los Angeles County District Attorney drop the felony criminal charges against the pro-Palestinian supporters. It is concerned that prosecution of this case will send the message that criminalizing pro-Palestinian supporters is acceptable and have a chilling effect on the exercise of free speech and assembly on the pro-Palestinian movement.
CAIR-LA is a chapter of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Communications Coordinator Ojaala Ahmad, 714.776.1847, E-Mail: oahmad@cair.com.
