‘Unacceptable’: US Muslim group demands action from Trump over American teen held for months without charge in Israel
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is demanding that the US government secure the release of Abdalkareem Issa Ahmed Safi, an American teenager detained by Israel without charge for four months. The group alleges that Safi is being held in a facility known for torture and calls for congressional oversight.
Why it matters
The case highlights ongoing tensions regarding the treatment of Palestinian-American citizens in Israeli custody and the responsibilities of the US government in protecting its citizens abroad.
WASHINGTON, Oct 3 — The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) yesterday called on the White House and Congress to demand the release of Abdalkareem Issa Ahmed Safi, an American teenager held in an Israeli prison for nearly four months without charge, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.
“It should be unacceptable to the White House and Congress for the Israeli government to continue kidnapping Americans and disappearing them into prisons known for torture, all without any criminal charges or other due process,” Nihad Awad, CAIR’s national executive director, said in a statement.
“The Trump administration has a legal and moral obligation to protect American citizens overseas, especially from rogue governments funded by American taxpayer dollars,” he added.
Awad urged Congress “to exercise its oversight authority and demand that the State Department secure Abdalkareem’s swift and safe release.”
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