Immediate Release
April 18, 2024
MAPAC (Muslim American Public Affairs Council)
Continues to Call for an End to the Violence in the MENA region and a Sustained Ceasefire in Palestine
Local Effort to Raise Awareness About Deteriorating Conditions in the MENA region and Surrounding Regions
On October 7th, 2023, Hamas and Israel began sustained hostilities in the region. Communities in the Raleigh-Durham and North Carolina region with loved ones in their country of origin have had to witness the lifetime impacts of violence in the MENA region.
However, October 7th became an inflection point in the history of the MENA region. Palestine and surrounding territories and the people who identify as Palestinians have been subjected to epistemic violence since the inception of Israel in 1948 and the early 19th century with the Sykes-Picot Agreement and the Balfour Declaration. This also includes the 1967 land theft of the Golan Heights by Israel. In response to the abduction of Israeli citizens by Hamas, Israel has engaged in a carte blanche campaign of collective punishment against Palestinians. This is unacceptable.
According to International and Humanitarian law-- and its related bodies such as the UN Security Council: https://press.un.org/en/2024/sc15641.doc.htm, have made statements and called on the international community to act.
Israel continues to violate recommendations from the International Court of Justice as is referenced by the statements released here:
Application of the Convention of the Prevention and Genocide in the Gaza Strip: https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/192/192-20240328-pre-01-00-en.pdf
Alleged Breaches of International Law: https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/193/193-20240409-pre-01-00-en.pdf
Applications of the law should be equal for all countries and their partnerships with countries such as the United States, Germany, France and the United Kingdom should not shield them from accountability and compliance with the law. The current administration’s approach of sanctioning MENA countries continues a troubling pattern of collective punishment and destabilization. This is also why we call on the State Department and its entities to take all measures necessary to implement a sustained ceasefire in the region instead of carrying out illegitimate humanitarian intervention campaigns.
This is why MAPAC members continue to call for a sustained (indefinite) ceasefire in the region and security for agencies facilitating medical, psychosocial and humanitarian assistance. North Carolina is home to people that practice many different faiths and this history of pluralism is evident in the MENA region.
The violence and militarism overseas that is covered by multiple media outlets overseas and in the United States has led to increased surveillance of our communities and has manifested itself in the form of anti-Arab, anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim hate. Too many of our communities are being subjected to alienation and isolation that was experienced after 9/11. This has also included the targeting of groups that may “look visibly Muslim” such as the South Asian, Asian, Latino and Black community. We are gravely concerned that as it is an election year, the constant dehumanization of our communities will continue to persist and pose a public health and safety hazard. This is why we are calling on local and federal organizations in North Carolina and beyond to assist in removing the stigma cast upon our communities, divest from organizations that perpetuate hate and to establish authentic partnerships to stop the rise of racism against our communities.