Muslim member of MD hate crime commission resigns after accusations of antisemitism

August 19, 2024   

(Daily Record) A Muslim member of Maryland’s hate crime commission resigned Monday amid what he called “a coordinated Islamophobic campaign of hate and online bullying from anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim groups.”

Ayman Nassar, CEO of the Islamic Leadership Institute, was appointed to the Maryland Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention by Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown on July 31. He resigned after being accused of antisemitism and homophobia by the Middle East Forum, a pro-Israel group. Nassar said his statements in support of Palestinian liberation were mischaracterized as being in support of terrorism.

“It is troubling to witness the extent to which the forces of bigotry and online bullying can influence our state’s leadership,” Nassar wrote in a LinkedIn post Monday. “The campaign against me has not only been a personal attack but also an assault on the integrity of the commission and the important work it is meant to do.”

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