9/11 and World Trade Center

Law Enforcement

Cage director banned from entering Switzerland to address meeting at UN Muhammad Rabbani held overnight after being stopped at Geneva Airport in latest incident which he says is a consequence of France adding his name to a European no-entry database

December 13, 2023   

(Middle East Eye) Border authorities in Switzerland have stopped the director of a UK-based human rights group from entering the country to address a meeting at the United Nations office in Geneva “after a request from France.” Posting on social media on […]

Academics & Education

In San Diego, controversy surrounds an antisemitic imam and his wife Imam Taha Hassane has justified Hamas’s Oct. 7 terror attack, while Lallia Allali posted an image of a Star of David decapitating babies.

December 11, 2023   

(JNS) On Dec. 8, the Palestine, Arab and Muslim Caucus of the California Faculty Association hosted an event — listed with the California State University, San Bernardino, logo — titled “Endangered Education: Teaching Palestine in Liberated K-12 Ethnic Studies.” Among the speakers […]

Government & Politics

Swing-state Muslim Americans threaten to vote against Biden Muslim Americans voted overwhelmingly for Biden. But community leaders in swing states tell NBC News that the president's handling of the war in Gaza risks losing their support.

October 31, 2023 and   

(NBC) As Israel’s U.S-backed war against Hamas intensifies and Palestinian civilian deaths mount, a growing number of swing-state Muslim American and Arab American leaders are warning President Joe Biden that he is losing support from their communities in ways that could cost […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

White House increases outreach to Muslim and Arab Americans in face of criticism to Israel-Gaza war response Some aides worry Biden hasn't shown enough empathy for Palestinian civilians and a Muslim community facing anger at home.

October 25, 2023 , , and   

(NBC) Hours before President Joe Biden gave a rare prime-time address last week, his head speechwriter sat down with a group of senior Arab and Muslim American officials to go over the draft and take suggestions. Dissent was sprouting even inside the […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

‘The man broke my heart’: Biden’s Arab-American boosters begin to leave his side These Arab-Americans were among Biden’s biggest fans. Now they’re warning they — and others — could abandon him in 2024.

October 23, 2023   

(Politico) Maysoon Zayid, a Palestinian American comedian, did everything she could to get Joe Biden elected in 2020. She starred in a comedy event boosting him. She spoke on a call organized by the Biden campaign featuring Arab women supporting him. Biden’s […]

Discrimination & “Islamophobia”

‘I will never vote Biden’: Some Muslim Americans in a key swing state feel betrayed by the president Muslim and Arab Americans say their support was critical to Biden’s winning Michigan in 2020. Some warn they won’t back him again over his blanket support for Israel.

October 21, 2023 , and   

(NBC) As President Joe Biden declared unwavering support for Israel in the days after Hamas’ terror attack in Israel, Ahmad Ramadan, a former Biden adviser now leading coalition efforts for the Michigan Democratic Party, called the state party chair to raise the […]

Academics & Education

Pro-Palestinian school board member opposes honoring Hamas attack victims: ‘Ignores the root of the violence’ Fairfax County School Board member Abrar Omeish chided fellow members for a moment of silence and not including a pro-Palestine perspective

October 13, 2023   

(Fox) A pro-Palestinian Fairfax County School Board member scolded fellow board members Thursday for giving a statement and holding a moment of silence for the victims of Hamas’ recent deadly attack against Israel. During the meeting, Abrar Omeish rebuked the board for […]

Law Enforcement

Man accused of leading 9/11 plot was denied a lawyer, then confessed The confession at issue in the case came after the accused mastermind asked about a lawyer. He would not get to see one for 15 more months.

September 27, 2023   

(NY Times) Prosecutors called a retired F.B.I. agent this week to testify that the man who is accused of orchestrating the Sept. 11 attacks freely discussed the deadly hijacking plot during four days of questioning in January 2007. In doing so, the […]

Health & Medicine

9/11 defendant not fit for death-penalty trial, judge rules A military mental health panel said that Ramzi bin al-Shibh had PTSD, psychosis and delusions, which his lawyer blamed on his torture by the C.I.A.

September 21, 2023   

(NY Times) A military judge ruled on Thursday that a defendant in the Sept. 11 case who was tortured by the C.I.A. was ineligible for a death-penalty trial, adopting a finding that the prisoner was too psychologically damaged to help defend himself. […]

Government & Politics

Biden rejects proposed conditions for plea deals in Sept. 11 case Five Guantánamo detainees accused of aiding the attacks wanted a promise of care for torture-related trauma and to avoid solitary confinement.

September 6, 2023 and   

(NY Times) President Biden has rejected a list of proposed conditions sought by the five men who are accused of conspiring in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in exchange for pleading guilty and receiving a maximum punishment of life in prison, […]

Health & Medicine

Man accused in 9/11 plot is not fit to face trial, board says The question of Ramzi bin al-Shibh’s sanity has shadowed the case since he first appeared at the Guantánamo court in 2008. A new medical panel report says he has a mental illness making him incompetent for trial.

August 25, 2023   

(NY Times) A military medical board has concluded that Ramzi bin al-Shibh, who is accused of conspiring in the Sept. 11 attacks, has a mental illness that makes him incompetent to either face trial or plead guilty in the death penalty case, […]

Government & Politics

Ramaswamy rushes to clean up 9/11 remarks

August 22, 2023   

(Hill) Vivek Ramaswamy is seeking to clean up comments he made that appeared to cast doubt about the origins of the 9/11 attacks as part of an interview released just before the first GOP presidential debate. Ramaswamy, the 38-year-old upstart GOP presidential candidate […]

Government & Politics

Ramaswamy: I ‘don’t believe’ the 9/11 Commission report The GOP candidate went on to insist he was expressing doubts about the Saudi government’s explanation for the attacks.

August 2, 2023   

(Politico) Vivek Ramaswamy cast doubt on the veracity of the government’s explanation of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, saying he didn’t believe the findings of the 9/11 Commission. In an interview Tuesday night on the conservative Blaze TV, host Alex Stein […]

Clerics & Preachers

GOP reps raise alarm bells over Iran’s influence in ‘American religious institutions’ GOP reps demand to know if Biden administration has strategy to counter Iranian regime activities in US

August 1, 2023   

(Fox) Republicans in Congress have issued a tough letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines warning about the influence of Iran’s terror ideology in at least four U.S.-based mosques and centers. The GOP letter, exclusively obtained […]

Interfaith

In searing rebuke of FBI, judge orders release of three ‘Newburgh Four’ terrorism defendants ‘The real lead conspirator was the United States,’ judge writes, calling 25-year sentences ‘unjust’; Schoharie limo crash figure was undercover asset

July 27, 2023   

(Times Union) A federal judge has ordered the “compassionate release” from federal prison of three people whom she described as “hapless” and “easily manipulated” petty criminals who were convicted 14 years ago in a controversial terrorist plot in which the FBI relied […]