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Arab-American Leaders Pledge to Fight Sexual Assault and Harassment
A coalition of Arab-American officials, led by state Rep. Rashida Tlaib, pledged Tuesday to fight sexual harassment in light of allegations against a civil rights leader and announced the formation of a new support group to help victims.
Speaking at the Lebanese American Heritage Manor in Dearborn, the group recited together a six-point pledge that said in part: “I will do my part to end sexual assault and harassment … I know that sexual assault and harassment are never the victim’s fault.”
The new group, the Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Harassment (CASAH), is aimed at helping victims of sexual assault.
“Eight years ago … I had no one to turn to and nowhere to go,” said Rana Abbas, former deputy director at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC).
Abbas and Tlaib, D-Detroit, have said they and at least 13 other women were sexually harassed by Imad Hamad, 52, the ADC’s former senior national adviser and director of its Michigan branch. Some of the women said they were assaulted. ADC’s leaders maintain that an internal investigation it conducted found insufficient evidence that Hamad harassed women.
With the formation of the new group, “no one ever has to feel that helpless again,” Abbas said Tuesday. “We will not tolerate the abuse of power and privilege. We will not turn our back on any woman or man who believe they have been victims.”
Abbas and Tlaib said it can be hard for women to come forward to talk about sexual harassment. It is important to show that leaders in the Arab-American community care about this issue, they said.
Abbas was joined by her mother and father at the news conference. Also there were longtime leaders in the Arab-American community, including: Anan Ameri, former head of the Arab American National Museum; Hassan Jaber, head of the largest Arab-American social services group, Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS); Ismael Ahmed, an administrator at the University of Michigan-Dearborn who also is the former head of ACCESS and head of Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; attorney and civil rights advocate Noel Saleh; Osama Siblani, publisher of the Arab-American News; business leader Nasser Beydoun, and Nabih Ayad, an attorney who heads the Arab American Civil Rights League.
Many of them blasted the leaders of the ADC for not only the alleged harassment by Hamad, but also how ADC handled the investigation and the release of information. ADC leaders initially said the attorney they hired to investigate the complaints said there was insufficient evidence, but later changed their story after the attorney said she never made a determination, because she was only asked to gather facts.
“The decision made by ADC’s leadership is unconscionable,” said Ahmed. “They’re supposed to protect women, not victimize them.”
He applauded Tlaib and Abbas for coming forward.
“These are some very brave women,” Ahmed said.
ADC’s national chair, Dr. Safa Rifka, was in Detroit Tuesday meeting at a hotel with some local Arab Americans to discuss the future of the ADC. The meeting was private and leaders with ADC did not comment Tuesday. Hamad’s attorney, Shereef Akeel, also did not comment.
Tlaib, who has said that Hamad sexually harassed her when she was young and starting her career, said Tuesday at the Lebanese center: “Sexual assault and harassment are serious issues and can ruin victims’ lives. With the help of this new coalition, I will work hard to enhance our existing state laws that address sexual harassment in the workplace and beyond, and to streamline reporting processes across the board to ensure the rights of victims are protected throughout any investigations.”
Detroit attorney Tim Attalla led the group in reciting the six-point pledge. It included:
■ “I will talk to my family and friends about this issue.”
■ “I will not tolerate rape jokes, or bullying behavior from those around me. I will interrupt them to explain how these behaviors are harmful and hurtful.”
■ “I will not stand by, or participate in any non-consensual activities that promote power, control, or force over another person.”
■ “If a friend discloses to me that they have been a victim of sexual assault or harassment, I will listen, not judge, and I will seek help from a trusted individual.”
Ameri said that she was “disappointed with ADC” for how it handled the allegations against Hamad and with sexual harassment in general. She noted that the Catholic Church and U.S. Navy have been dealing with this issue, and now it’s time for the Arab-American and Muslim communities to deal with it.
“The Arab-American community is a conservative community,” Ameri said. “For women to come forward in public and speak, it’s not an easy thing.”
Business leader Beydoun, former head of the American-Arab Chamber of Commerce in Dearborn, said Abbas and Tlaib are role models for their accomplishments and for speaking out.
Abbas said the group is needed so that victims “have a support system in place and that they have someone to turn to. We will not allow shame to guide us.”
Niraj Warikoo
Detroit Free Press