AMP presses State Department on Al Aqsa; Syrian refugee issues

(WASHINGTON DC 10/06/2015) – The American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), a national education and advocacy organization, along with several other Muslim and policy organizations met today with State Department officials to discuss Israeli threats against Al Aqsa mosque compound and also to request more Syrian refugees be allowed into the United States. AMP organized the meeting. 

AMP also presented Mr. Christopher Henzel, director of the office of Israel and Palestinian affairs, with a statement asking the State Department to ensure Israel abides by international and American law in protecting Palestinian Muslims’ and Christians’ right to worship. The statement was signed by 20 Muslim, Christian, Jewish and Arab organizations. 

“It was important to convey that the Al Aqsa mosque sanctuary is extremely important to American Muslims and that as Americans we want Israel to be held to the same human rights standards as other recipients of our US foreign aid,” said Dr. Osama Abuirshaid, AMP national policy director. “At the same time, we made it clear that when other countries such as Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Germany, have opened their borders to Syrian refugees, the US should also admit more than the 10,000 slated to be accepted over the next two years.”

AMP was joined by the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR); Muslim American Society (MAS); the Islamic Circle of North American (ICNA) and the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL).

AMP is a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public about Palestine’s rich cultural, historical and religious heritage. For more information, go to www.ampalestine.org.