The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and its California chapter have condemned what they described as “Islamophobic” remarks and the scapegoating of Afghan citizens during a joint hearing of U.S. congressional subcommittees.
In a statement released on Friday, January 16, the organizations said the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the “Afghan parole” immigration program had turned into a platform for political attacks, the spread of false allegations, and assaults on organizations that serve Muslim communities.
According to the statement, “baseless and defamatory” claims were made against CAIR during the hearing, and an extremist figure with anti-Muslim views was invited to testify as a witness.
CAIR said the remarks were part of a broader campaign to vilify American Muslims, Afghan refugees, and organizations that advocate for the rights of immigrants and Palestinians.
Edward Ahmed Mitchell, deputy director of CAIR, said that several senators used the hearing to stoke hatred against immigrants, refugees, and American Muslims.
Meanwhile, the executive director of CAIR California described the hearing as a “shameful political spectacle,” saying it was used to smear the Afghan community and civil society organizations instead of focusing on policymaking and public safety.
This comes as tens of thousands of Afghan nationals have entered the United States through special programs since the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, with debates over their legal status and resettlement continuing.