Public Policy & NGOs
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US Middle East Policies Making a Bad Situation Worse
WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The Arab American Institute issued the following statement on May 18, 2026:
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US Middle East Policies Making a Bad Situation Worse
One reason why US policy in the Middle East has been so problematic is because policymakers refuse to consider its impact on the needs of Arab people. With Israel, it's a different story. Over-attentiveness to Israeli concerns coupled with the lack of sensitivity to what Arabs think about our actions has led to deep fractures between Arabs and the US and within the Arab World.
Since 2000, we've conducted over 50 multi-nation opinion polls
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WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The Arab American Institute issued the following statement on May 18, 2026:
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US Middle East Policies Making a Bad Situation Worse
One reason why US policy in the Middle East has been so problematic is because policymakers refuse to consider its impact on the needs of Arab people. With Israel, it's a different story. Over-attentiveness to Israeli concerns coupled with the lack of sensitivity to what Arabs think about our actions has led to deep fractures between Arabs and the US and within the Arab World.
Since 2000, we've conducted over 50 multi-nation opinion pollson a variety of topics. We explored Arab attitudes toward other Arabs, the US, China, Russia, Iran, and Israel. We also examined attitudes toward conflicts in the region.
It's been over two years since we've polled across the Arab World, but based on what we saw developing during our two and a half decades of work, it's clear that US policies are headed toward disaster--not only for the US and its stated goals, but also, and more importantly, for the Arab people.
What follows are some observations based on the trend lines we have culled from our surveys:
* After 9/11, President Bush famously claimed, "They hate us because they hate our values." Our 2002 polling found the opposite: Arabs liked American people, products, education and values, but strongly disliked US policies toward the Arab world--especially regarding Palestinians. As I said during a congressional hearing on my polling: "Arabs like us and our values--what they resent is that we don't apply those values to them."
Bush's Iraq war and neglect of Palestinians further lowered US ratings. They rose with Obama's promise of change but fell when he didn't deliver on them. Attitudes further plummeted with Trump's pro-Israel, anti-Muslim policies.
By late 2023, our last multi-nation poll showed President Biden's support for Israel's war on Gaza generating even stronger negatives. To make matters worse, the complications created by President Trump's US-Israel attacks on Iran, coupled with his assault on the very aspects of America that were respected worldwide--our universities, press freedom, and immigration policy--make it likely that Arabs are now finding it difficult to even like American values.
* Over the years, we have often polled on favorable/unfavorable attitudes toward China and the US. During this time, while opinions toward the US ebbed and flowed, attitudes toward China remained steady. By the end of 2023, for the first time, China's ratings were competitive with those of the US in areas that had previously been the US's strong suits--education and doing business. And in several Arab countries, China was seen as a more reliable partner than the US.
* Arab attitudes toward Iran have followed a consistent pattern. When Iran was perceived to be under attack for resisting the US and the West, it found a strong base of support among many Arabs. But when Iran directly meddled in Arab countries, opinion turned against it. And when its ally Hezbollah turned its weapons against its domestic Lebanese opponents and joined Iran in direct involvement in Syria's civil war, majorities in most Arab countries turned against Iran.
Following this trajectory, one can reasonably assume that the US/Israel attacks on Iran coupled with Israel's attacks on Lebanon and Syria, and Israel's boasts of becoming the regional power that was "defending Western civilization against barbarism," won Iran some sympathy in Arab public opinion. The same might be true for the recent US/Israel attacks on Iran, except that instead of seeking Arab support, Iran deliberately attacked its Arab Gulf neighbors--the very countries that had been trying to restore relationships with the meddlesome Islamic Republic. This, no doubt, turned opinion among many in the Gulf against Iran. It is uncertain, however, how much intra-Arab friction this is causing in the rest of Arab world.
* Support for Palestinians has long been a central Arab concern. They showed little interest in making peace with Israel--even in those countries that had signed peace agreements with Israel. As Israeli repression of Palestinians intensified and the fractured and visionless Palestinian leadership failed to inspire, Arab opinion began to change. In late 2019, we asked Arabs if they felt it would be desirable to make peace with Israel, even if Israel didn't accept the terms of the Arab Peace Initiative. When significant numbers said that it might be desirable, we asked why. The responses varied but many told us that it might help end the violence and give Arabs more leverage to convince Israel to grant Palestinian rights.
We repeated this question at the end of September 2023 and had completed about half of the questionnaires by October 7, the date of the Hamas attack. We interrupted the survey and only went back a few weeks later to complete it. The changes in the results were significant. Before October 7th, responses were similar to the 2019 poll, but by the end of October, in reaction to the intensity of Israel's assault on Gaza, attitudes shifted dramatically against any attempt to deal with Israel. Three years later, one can reasonably assume this hasn't changed.
In 2024 and 2025, on three occasions, we polled in the Occupied Lands. Results were disturbing. Israeli policy had worked to discredit the Palestinian Authority, weakening its ability to govern. Opinion in the West Bank had turned against the PA, with respondents saying they preferred Hamas. In Gaza, we found that Hamas had fallen into deep disfavor, with a strong plurality of Gazans preferring the PA. In both the West Bank and Gaza there was little support for US, Israeli, or international governance. They preferred Palestinian unity.
Meanwhile, Israel continues to lay waste to Gaza and is running roughshod over the West Bank and East Jerusalem, further angering Palestinians and discrediting the PA. All the while Israel rejects any role for the PA in Gaza. As the situation further unravels, the US ignores Palestinians' wishes and turns a blind eye to Israeli misdeeds.
* In Lebanon, when Hezbollah was seen as resisting Israel, it found favor among many Lebanese, especially since Israel frequently bombed Lebanon and occupied a swatch of its land from the late 1970s to 2000. However, when in 2008, Hezbollah turned its weapons against the state and in 2019 against the popular revolt, Lebanese opinion divided along sectarian lines. Our polling before 2023 showed that most Lebanese wanted Hezbollah disarmed or under the control of the Lebanese army. But Israel's recent devastating assault on Lebanon, its bombing throughout the country, its forced expulsion of one million Lebanese from the south, its destruction of homes, farmlands, and entire villages, and explicit intention to annex a large portion of the country has no doubt restored some support for Hezbollah and exacerbated internal sectarian tensions, while turning more Lebanese against Israel and the US.
Seen in this light, US efforts to pressure the Lebanese government to forcibly disarm Hezbollah and make a peace agreement with Israel is dangerous for Lebanon's stability.
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In each instance, it is America's lack of attentiveness to Arab sensitivities and needs that contributes to making a bad situation even worse--further embittering Arabs toward the US, deepening fissures within the Arab World, while fostering every-expanding Israeli impunity.
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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Arab American Institute. The Arab American Institute is a non-profit, nonpartisan national leadership organization that does not endorse candidates.
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Note: To discuss this column with me. Please register here (https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/VwOAJ56CTyC-jexn57ElWw) for my next 'Coffee And A Column' event on Wednesday via Zoom.
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Original text here: https://www.aaiusa.org/library/us-middle-east-policies-making-a-bad-situation-worse
[Category: International]
SwRI expands ISO 14001:2015 environmental management certification
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, May 19 [Category: Business] -- Southwest Research Institute posted the following news release:
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SwRI expands ISO 14001:2015 environmental management certification
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May 19, 2026 -Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has achieved ISO 14001:2015 certification for its fire technology, pharmaceutical development, analytical and environmental chemistry, and chemical engineering research areas. The internationally recognized environmental management framework supports proactive systems and operations to reduce emissions and protect the environment.
"While we already had
... Show Full Article
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, May 19 [Category: Business] -- Southwest Research Institute posted the following news release:
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SwRI expands ISO 14001:2015 environmental management certification
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May 19, 2026 -Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has achieved ISO 14001:2015 certification for its fire technology, pharmaceutical development, analytical and environmental chemistry, and chemical engineering research areas. The internationally recognized environmental management framework supports proactive systems and operations to reduce emissions and protect the environment.
"While we already hadmany of the systems in place required to meet this accreditation, we took the important next step of formalizing it," said Karen Martinez, director of SwRI's Fire Technology Department. "The ISO 14001 accreditation should give our clients peace of mind knowing we're doing everything possible to protect our community and environment."
To achieve this expanded third-party certification, SwRI's quality assurance team worked for two years to train staff to maintain proper documentation and adhere to the standard before undergoing external audits. SwRI's automotive engineering research activities had previously received ISO 14001:2015 certification.
"At SwRI, stewardship is one of our core values. We already maintain strict systems to prevent air and water pollution during our operations," said Colby Tate, a manager on SwRI's quality assurance team. "The rigorous process for obtaining certification gives our clients one more reason to work with us."
Conformance to ISO 14001:2015 requires compliance with both external and internal rules, regulations and permits regarding environmental aspects with an emphasis on continual improvement along with regular audits by ISO-certified bodies.
"SwRI's fire testing activities use a customized pollution abatement system to capture smoke and other toxic particulates, keeping them out of the air we breathe. This system is crucial to our fire testing and a big part of how we achieved this ISO accreditation," said Martinez.
For more information visit Fire Research & Engineering, Pharmaceutical Development or Chemistry & Chemical Engineering or contact Camaron Brooks, +1 210 522 2357, Communications Department, Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX 78238-5166.
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Original text here: https://www.swri.org/newsroom/press-releases/swri-expands-iso-140012015-environmental-management-certification
Senate Majority PAC Commits $10 Million to Defend New Hampshire Senate Seat
WASHINGTON, May 19 -- Senate Majority PAC, an organizations that works to elect Democratic senators who are committed to an economy that provides opportunity and security for America's working families and who stand up to protect the rights of all Americans, issued the following news release on May 18, 2026:
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Senate Majority PAC Commits $10 Million to Defend New Hampshire Senate Seat
Today, Senate Majority PAC announced an initial $10.2 million television reservation in New Hampshire to support Chris Pappas against the eventual Republican nominee.
New Hampshire Republicans are locked in
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 19 -- Senate Majority PAC, an organizations that works to elect Democratic senators who are committed to an economy that provides opportunity and security for America's working families and who stand up to protect the rights of all Americans, issued the following news release on May 18, 2026:
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Senate Majority PAC Commits $10 Million to Defend New Hampshire Senate Seat
Today, Senate Majority PAC announced an initial $10.2 million television reservation in New Hampshire to support Chris Pappas against the eventual Republican nominee.
New Hampshire Republicans are locked ina bitter, drawn-out primary, with the two candidates, Scott Brown and John Sununu, spending the majority of their campaigns sniping at one another.
"Granite Staters are facing rising costs, higher insurance premiums, and are struggling to afford care for their families - all while Sununu and Scott are at one another's throats," said Senate Majority PAC Spokesperson Lauren French. "Chris Pappas is focused on the issues that matter to New Hampshire voters, and it's why he'll come out ahead come November."
The television reservation will be backed by a significant digital investment and will begin this fall. In addition to New Hampshire, SMP has also announced a $46.4 million television investment in Ohio, a $33.4 million investment in Maine, a $31.4 million investment in North Carolina, a $20 million investment in both Michigan and Georgia, a $13.4 million investment in Iowa, and a $10.6 million investment in Alaska.
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Original text here: https://senatemajority.com/news/senate-majority-pac-commits-10-million-to-defend-new-hampshire-senate-seat/
[Category: Political]
First Focus on Children: Social Security Benefits Application for Kids Should Be Online, Advocates Say
WASHINGTON, May 19 -- First Focus on Children, an advocacy organization dedicated to making children and families the priority in federal policy and budget decisions, issued the following news release:
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Social security benefits application for kids should be online, advocates say
Online access will help children who have lost a parent
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First Focus on Children and other leading advocacy organizations are urging the Social Security Administration (SSA) to streamline access to benefits for children who have lost a parent.
In a letter to the Commissioner, First Focus on Children, Child
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 19 -- First Focus on Children, an advocacy organization dedicated to making children and families the priority in federal policy and budget decisions, issued the following news release:
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Social security benefits application for kids should be online, advocates say
Online access will help children who have lost a parent
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First Focus on Children and other leading advocacy organizations are urging the Social Security Administration (SSA) to streamline access to benefits for children who have lost a parent.
In a letter to the Commissioner, First Focus on Children, ChildWelfare League of America, Easterseals, and Save the Children, urged SSA to modernize and improve access by allowing applicants to file applications and schedule appointments online.
"Losing a parent is a horrible shock for a child to have to endure. For decades, Social Security has helped mitigate that loss by providing critical benefits that help kids reach their full potential even after they've lost a parent," said Chad Bolt, Senior Vice President for Economic Security at First Focus on Children. "But many families don't know about the benefits or aren't able to easily apply for them. That's why we're encouraging the Social Security Administration to take a few simple steps to connect these kids and their families with the benefits they're already eligible for."
"It is our collective responsibility--as parents, communities, and a nation--to ensure that every child has what they need to survive and flourish. When a child endures the unthinkable loss of someone who loved and cared for them, the trauma can be profound and lifelong", said Linda Spears, President and CEO of the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA). "We cannot afford complacency in addressing that harm. We must do everything in our power to provide children with ready access to the resources intended for their daily care and well-being. The CWLA urgently calls on the Social Security Administration to build on its commitment to survivors and meet today's needs to simplify and modernize access, so that eligible children receive the critical benefits they need."
"When a parent dies, a family shouldn't have to fight an outdated bureaucratic process to access benefits their child is already owed. Roughly one million children are missing Social Security survivor benefits, not because they don't qualify, but because the application process creates barriers," said Ted Thompson, Senior Vice President of Government Relations at Easterseals. "Moving this application online and enabling self-scheduling are common-sense fixes well within SSA's existing authority. Easterseals is proud to stand with First Focus on Children and our partners in calling on Commissioner Bisignano to support child survivors."
The request follows a "digital-first" approach to government services and recent recommendations issued by the Social Security Advisory Board.
Social Security is one of the nation's most effective anti-poverty programs for children, providing critical income support to children and families following the death of a parent. But despite its importance, too many eligible children are not receiving the benefits for which they're eligible. Recent analysis suggests that roughly one million children whose parents died are not connected to survivor benefits, often due to gaps in awareness and administrative barriers that make applying unnecessarily difficult. This leaves children without the support that helps mitigate the economic shock of losing a parent and their income - which can lead to negative education, health, and employment outcomes later in a child's life.
Improving the current application process could help close this gap.
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INFODOC: https://firstfocus.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Survivor_children_letter_051426.docx.pdf
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Original text here: https://firstfocus.org/news/social-security-benefits-application-for-kids-should-be-online-advocates-say/
[Category: Sociological]
Earthjustice: Trump Administration's EPA Rejects Hawaii's Clean Air Plan
SAN FRANCISCO, California, May 19 -- Earthjustice issued the following news release on May 18, 2026:
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Trump Administration's EPA Rejects Hawaii's Clean Air Plan
The agency decision disregards Hawaiian Electric's own promises to retire aging oil-burning plants
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Honolulu, HI -- The Trump administration's Environmental Protection Agency finalized its rejection of Hawaii's Regional Haze State Implementation Plan on Friday, illegally overriding the state's plan to clean up haze-causing pollution from aging oil-burning power plants on Hawaii Island and Maui.
Without the plan, nearly 8,000
... Show Full Article
SAN FRANCISCO, California, May 19 -- Earthjustice issued the following news release on May 18, 2026:
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Trump Administration's EPA Rejects Hawaii's Clean Air Plan
The agency decision disregards Hawaiian Electric's own promises to retire aging oil-burning plants
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Honolulu, HI -- The Trump administration's Environmental Protection Agency finalized its rejection of Hawaii's Regional Haze State Implementation Plan on Friday, illegally overriding the state's plan to clean up haze-causing pollution from aging oil-burning power plants on Hawaii Island and Maui.
Without the plan, nearly 8,000of tons of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, along with the fine particulate matter they form in the atmosphere, will continue to pollute the air around these plants, making skies in the state's iconic national parks hazy, and driving asthma attacks, heart and lung disease, hospital visits, and premature death in nearby communities. Groups challenging the EPA's action say it will harm Hawaii communities and will result in dirtier air in Hawaii Volcanoes and Haleakala National Parks.
"Hawaii's stunning national parks are a showcase for some of the most unique and beautiful landscapes in the world," said Ulla Reeves, Clean Air Program Director for the National Parks Conservation Association. "When the EPA disapproved Hawaii's plan to protect park air, they put parks, visitors and communities at risk. This action is another in a string of EPA efforts to keep dirty, old, and inefficient power plants running no matter the costs to the people and natural places those facilities harm."
Under the Clean Air Act, states must develop plans every ten years to reduce the haze pollution that obscures views in national parks and wilderness areas. Hawaiian Electric proposed and agreed to retire plants instead of installing the required pollution controls.
"To keep fossil fuel plants running, the Trump EPA is twisting the law to override states' ability to protect their own air and the health of the communities that will breathe it," said Abi Vijayan, senior climate attorney for NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). "Their legal theory won't hold up in court, but in the meantime, families will keep breathing the pollution the Clean Air Act was supposed to clean up."
In an August 2025 letter to EPA, sent more than a year after Hawaii finalized its plan, Hawaiian Electric reversed course and asked EPA to release it from its own commitments, citing speculative "grid reliability" concerns. EPA accepted those claims without independent analysis.
"Once again, the law and facts don't matter at Trump's EPA, which would rather protect the fossil fuel industry instead of our environment," said Isaac Moriwake, Managing Attorney for Earthjustice's Mid-Pacific Office, which has worked for decades to move Hawaii from imported fossil fuels to clean energy. "What's worse is that the EPA is letting HECO renege on its own promise to shut down these plants, which are among the dirtiest, most costly, and most unreliable plants in the nation."
Hawaii's national parks are economic engines for the state. In 2024, more than 1.4 million people visited Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and more than 700,000 visited Haleakala National Park, generating more than $400 million and $56 million in visitor spending and supporting thousands of jobs. Research shows that visitation to national parks drops by as much as 8 percent when air quality is degraded.
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About Earthjustice
Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.
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Original text here: https://earthjustice.org/press/2026/trump-administrations-epa-rejects-hawaii-clean-air-plan
[Category: Environment]
CAIR-MI Condemns Distribution of Antisemitic Propaganda in Berkley
WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on May 18, 2026:
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CAIR-MI Condemns Distribution of Antisemitic Propaganda in Berkley
The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), a chapter of the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned the distribution of antisemitic propaganda in in Berkley, Michigan.
Some 100 antisemitic pamphlets we found on the front lawns of home on Saturday.
In a statement, CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid said:
"CAIR-MI unequivocally condemns
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on May 18, 2026:
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CAIR-MI Condemns Distribution of Antisemitic Propaganda in Berkley
The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), a chapter of the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned the distribution of antisemitic propaganda in in Berkley, Michigan.
Some 100 antisemitic pamphlets we found on the front lawns of home on Saturday.
In a statement, CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid said:
"CAIR-MI unequivocally condemnsthe distribution of antisemitic propaganda targeting the residents of Berkley. Acts of hate and intimidation directed at any faith or minority community have no place in our society. We stand in solidarity with our Jewish neighbors and support efforts by law enforcement to identify those responsible for spreading this hateful material.
"Antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, and all other forms of bigotry must be rejected wherever they appear. Communities are strongest when we unite against hate and uphold the dignity and safety of all people."
He encouraged community leaders, elected officials, and residents to continue speaking out against hate and to work together to foster mutual understanding and respect among all communities.
Last month, CAIR-MI welcomed the filing of charges against two individuals accused of spray-painting Nazi swastikas and neo-Nazi phrases in multiple locations in Sterling Heights.
Walid said Washington, D.C., based CAIR and the American Muslim community stand in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, systemic anti-Black racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
Last week, CAIR-MI condemned the reported racist vandalism of a biracial couple's home in Brown City.
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CAIR's mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-mi-condemns-distribution-of-antisemitic-propaganda-in-in-berkley/
[Category: Sociological]
CAIR Condemns Deadly Attack at San Diego Mosque
WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on May 18, 2026:
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BREAKING: CAIR Condemns Deadly Attack at San Diego Mosque
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and its San Diego office (CAIR-San Diego) today condemned a shooting attack at Islamic Center of San Diego. CAIR-San Diego representatives are on the scene monitoring developments.
There appear to be individuals who were shot. School children attending school were inside during the attack. CAIR-San Diego and local community leader have confirmed that at least one member
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on May 18, 2026:
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BREAKING: CAIR Condemns Deadly Attack at San Diego Mosque
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and its San Diego office (CAIR-San Diego) today condemned a shooting attack at Islamic Center of San Diego. CAIR-San Diego representatives are on the scene monitoring developments.
There appear to be individuals who were shot. School children attending school were inside during the attack. CAIR-San Diego and local community leader have confirmed that at least one memberof the mosque was killed.
Video: CAIR-San Diego Responds to Deadly Shooting Attack at Mosque (https://youtu.be/16Tpn2LdECM)
In a statement, CAIR-San Diego Executive Director Tazheen Nizam said:
"We strongly condemn this horrifying act of violence at the Islamic Center of San Diego. Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by this attack. No one should ever fear for their safety while attending prayers or studying at an elementary school. We are working to learn more about this incident and we encourage everyone to keep this community in your prayers."
CAIR offers a "Best Practices for Mosque and Community Safety" booklet to help keep religious facilities safe. The advice in the booklet is applicable to all houses of worship.
According to CAIR's most recent civil rights report, complaints of anti-Muslim bias and discrimination have continued to rise nationwide, reflecting an ongoing pattern of Islamophobia impacting communities across the country.
Washington, D.C., based CAIR encourages community members facing bias or hate incidents to report them to law enforcement and to CAIR.
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CAIR-San Diego is a chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. CAIR's mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/breaking-cair-condemns-deadly-attack-at-san-diego-mosque/
[Category: Sociological]
