The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Sacramento Valley office (CAIR-SV), announced on Friday evening that Abdullah Hassan, the 2-year-old son of Shaima Swileh and Ali Hassan, has passed away at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in Oakland.
A funeral service is set for Saturday afternoon in Lodi.
“We are heartbroken. We had to say goodbye to our baby, the light of our lives,” said Ali Hassan. “We want to thank everyone for your love and support at this difficult time. We ask you to kindly keep Abdullah and our family in your thoughts and prayers.”
In a statement, CAIR-SV Civil Rights Attorney Saad Sweilem, who represents the family, said:
“Ali and Shaima are in our thoughts and prayers as they mourn the loss of dear Abdullah. With their courage, this family has inspired our nation to confront the realities of Donald Trump’s Muslim Ban. In his short life, Abdullah has been a guiding light for all of us in the fight against xenophobia and family separation.”
WHAT: Funeral Service & Burial for Abdullah Hassan
WHERE: Funeral Service: California Islamic Center, 12882 Lower Sacramento Road, Lodi, CA 95242; Burial: California Islamic Cemetery, 14273 Beckman Road, Lodi, CA 95240
WHEN: Funeral Service: 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29; Burial Service will follow. Please check our Facebook page for updates (in case the time of the funeral changes): www.facebook.com/cairsacramento/.
Abdullah was brought to California by his father months ago to receive medical treatment due to a degenerative brain condition that continued to worsen. Abdullah and Ali are U.S. citizens.
Swileh is a Yemeni national who was unable to come to the United States to be with her ailing child and her husband because of the Muslim Ban. She had applied for a waiver and multiple expedite requests before CAIR got involved in the case two weeks ago.
Swileh finally received a visa waiver from the State Department on the morning of Dec. 18 after CAIR-SV and Nimer Law filed an emergency lawsuit and the case received international media attention and public support.
SEE: Yemeni mother wins visa fight to see her dying child in a California hospital
SEE: Letter from Members of Congress
SEE: CAIR-CA Action Alert
SEE: MPower Change Action Alert
Swileh arrived at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on Dec. 19, where she was reunited with her husband after months of separation due to the Muslim Ban. After a brief press conference, she rushed to the hospital to reunite with her ailing son.
SEE: Yemeni mother barred by travel ban arrives at SFO to visit dying son
CAIR-California and the Yemeni Alliance Committee have created a crowdfunding campaign on LaunchGood for the public to help the family during this difficult time: launchgood.com/forabdullah.