Latest news with #AbdullahAkl
Memri
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Memri
American Muslim Activist Abdullah Akl At Staten Island Mosque: Columbia University Activist Mahmoud Khalil Was Targeted By President Trump; They Claim He Is Antisemitic, But He Just Stood Up For Gaza; It Is Your Right Not To Open The Door To ICE; Call CAIR For Help; Will You Protect, Hide Your Brothers And Sisters?
Abdullah Akl, an organizer with Within Our Lifetime and director of advocacy at MAS Staten Island Center, discussed the March 8 arrest of Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil during Tarawih services at the Staten Island mosque on March 10, 2025. He condemned President Trump's statement "Shalom Mahmoud" in Hebrew, which claimed Khalil was antisemitic, while Akl argued that all Khalil did was stand up against the "genocide" in Gaza, like many of the worshipers at the mosque. Akl stressed that it is time for the Muslim community to protect themselves by not cooperating with immigration officials and by knowing the number of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) by heart. He said that the MAS Staten Island Center will not cooperate with immigration officials. He also asked whether community members are willing to "hide" Muslim brothers and sisters and protect them "against all harm." He urged Muslims in America to learn from the people of Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, who "put their entire lives on the line." Akl called on participants to join a protest for Mahmoud Khalil, which was set to be held the following day. Khalil was arrested for aligning with Hamas, a U.S. designated terror organization. For more about Mahmoud Khalil, see MEMRI TV clip no 11883. It is worth noting that Abdullah Akl has participated in several protests where Hamas paraphernalia was brandished, as well as photos of assassinated members of U.S.-designated terrorist organizations, such as Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hizbullah military leader Fuad Shukr. Abdullah Akl: "Just two days ago, Mahmoud Khalil, a student of Columbia University... In the middle of the night, Department of Homeland Security in collaboration with ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] raided his apartment. [...] "The reason why he was targeted, as the White House puts out just this morning, the White House puts his picture on the front cover in collaboration with the President of the United States, Donald Trump, mentioning 'Shalom Mahmoud.' This is the country that we live in, brothers and sisters. The President of the United States is saying goodbye in Hebrew to a young Columbian activist, a negotiator during the Columbia protests. Why? Because they claim that he was antisemitic when all he did was stand up against the genocide in Gaza, like many of, all of us, here today. [...] "Now more than ever it is time to protect ourselves as a community. It is time for us to know our rights. And you will be seeing it posted across our pages on our centers. Know your rights by not opening the door for immigration officials. Know your rights by understanding what it means to see a judge warrant. Know your rights by knowing the Council on American-Islamic Relations [CAIR] phone number like the back of your [hand]. [...] "If immigration officials ever come to our door MAS Staten Island is prepared to tell them no. [...] "Are you of that community that is willing to hide, willing to sanction, willing to protect your brothers and sisters against all harm? [...] "As we look to Gaza, as we look to Syria, as we look to Lebanon, and we look to our countries. And we say that they are committing and putting their entire lives on the line. They are being tested, the true test. I ask you brothers and sisters, do you not think this is a test as well? [...] "Tomorrow there is a protest being held in lower Manhattan. It is against everything that the Trump administration and Mayor Eric Adams stands for. We stand with that protest."
Memri
02-03-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Hamas Flags Waved at 'Rally to Defend Bay Ridge' in Brooklyn, Protestors Chant: 'We Don't Want No Zionists Here!' Activist Raja Abdulhaq: Gaza Has Shown Us the Way for Resistance - We Need to Reinvent
Hamas flags were raised at the 'rally to defend Bay Ridge and Palestine' that was held in front of the Islamic Society of By Ridge, Brooklyn on February 26, 2025, and some participants wore Hamas headbands. Abdullah Akl, and employee of MAS Staten Island Center, who spoke on behalf of Within Our Lifetime, said that 'Zionism is an enemy to people, here and across all the world.' Malik Hassan, the executive director of MAS Youth Center led a chant: 'The Zionist is the enemy of Allah!' Hassan has participated in the anti-Israel encampment in Columbia University in April 2024. Another chant leader was Mahmoud Kasem, owner of the local Al-Aqsa Bakery. Raja Abdulhaq, the co-founder of Quds News Network and a frequent speaker at MAS centers in New York, urged participants to follow the sacrifice and resistance of the people of Gaza. 'Um Obeida,' an activist dressed in military fatigues and a keffiyeh face covering - in the style of Izz Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades' spokesman Abu Obeida - waved a Hamas flag. A female representative of CAIR NY also spoke at the rally. The rally broke up for prayer at the Islamic Society of Bay Ridge twice throughout the evening, and a man sporting an Abu Obeida hoody and Hamas headband was seen praying inside the mosque. The rally was organized by Within Our Lifetime, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) NY, PAL-Awda, Muslim American Society (MAS) New York, Palestinian Youth Movement, Mamas 4 a Free Palestine, and others.
