Prominent Jewish rights groups say they have “grave concerns” about President Biden's nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals over his ties to a controversial pro-Palestinian advocacy group at Rutgers University. Ta.
The nonprofit watchdog group Stop Anti-Semitism said Adeel Mangi's ties to the Rutgers Center for Safety, Race and Rights (CSRR) will affect his ability to be impartial as a judge.
The New Jersey-based Muslim lawyer was selected by President Biden in November to serve as a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third District.
His nomination immediately came under scrutiny from conservatives over his ties to CSRR, where he served on the advisory board from 2019 to 2023.
The advocacy group raised eyebrows in 2021 during Mangi's tenure by hosting a panel discussion commemorating the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks that featured former University of South Florida professor Dr. Sami Al-Arian. who pleaded guilty in 2006 This is to support the Palestinian terrorist organization Islamic Jihad.
Al-Arian, who was born in Kuwait to Palestinian parents, was sentenced to 57 months in prison.
A panel titled “Whose story is it?” 20 Years since September 11, 2001,” includes Hatem Bazian, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and co-founder of the Students for Justice in Palestine, who In the video, he seemed to passionately call for an intifada in the United States. jerusalem post office.
Another speaker on the panel was Dr. Rabab Abulhad, who in 2020 was a member of the notorious Palestine Liberation Terrorists, known for two brazen hijackings in the late 60s and early 70s. , attempted to organize an event featuring Leila Khalid.
“We have no confidence in his ability to carry out the duties of the judiciary impartially and he should be removed from consideration immediately,” Liora Rez, executive director of Stop Antisemitism, said in a statement.
“His ties to the Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR) include his relationship with CSRR Executive Director Sahar Aziz and the horrific commemoration of 9/11 featuring convicted terrorist supporter Sami al-Arian. “As with the ceremony, it raises serious concerns,” Rez said. The group added that it “strongly opposes” Mangi's nomination.
CSRR on the website lists the “criminalization of Muslim identity” through “national security laws and policies in the United States and around the world” as one of the key themes of its mission.
Recent lectures held at CSRR include “Psychoanalysis under Occupation: Practices of Resistance in Palestine” and “Teaching Palestine in Series: Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Territories.” Website.
During Mangi's confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee in December, Republican lawmakers grilled him over his ties to the center.
“Are you going to condemn the center for inviting a convicted terrorist who is a supporter of Palestinian Islamic Jihad…” Sen. Ted Cruz said during aggressive questioning.
Mangi claimed his involvement was limited to academic advice and that he had no knowledge of the controversial 9/11 panel.
“I don't know anything about this case, I don't know anything about who these people are, I've never heard of them,” he told the Senate Judiciary Committee. I condemn it,” he said.
Mangi submitted his resignation to CSRR in June last year and resigned at the end of July.
“The center's activities were not consistent with what I personally felt was the most productive area of academic focus in support of civil rights litigation,” he said in the committee's questionnaire. Ta.
Mangi's confirmation vote is scheduled for Thursday. If appointed, he would be the first Muslim in U.S. history to serve on a federal appellate court, where judges serve for life.
The newspaper did not respond to a request for comment when contacted.
The Post also contacted CSRR.
