US Muslim group condemns Pelosi for saying Gaza ceasefire protests have
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[January 29, 2024]
By Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A U.S. Muslim group criticized former House of
Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday after she suggested,
without offering evidence, that some protesters demanding a ceasefire in
Gaza could be linked to Russia and urged the FBI to investigate.
Her comments were dismissed as "unsubstantiated smears" by the Council
on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), who said such remarks amounted to
dehumanization of the Palestinian people.
Pelosi made the remarks in a CNN interview after she was asked whether
opposition to President Joe Biden's policy in the war in Gaza could hurt
the Democrat in November's presidential election.
"For them to call for a ceasefire is Mr. Putin's message, Mr. Putin's
message. Make no mistake, this is directly connected to what he (Russian
President Vladimir Putin) would like to see," Pelosi told CNN.
"I think some of these protesters are spontaneous, and organic, and
sincere. Some I think are connected to Russia," she said. "Some
financing should be investigated and I want to ask the FBI to
investigate that."
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Pelosi's comments marked the first time a prominent U.S. lawmaker has
accused Russia's leader of backing U.S. protesters calling for a
ceasefire.
The Russian embassy in Washington was not immediately available to
comment.
Protests demanding a ceasefire in Gaza have recently occurred across the
U.S., including near airports and bridges in New York City and Los
Angeles, vigils outside the White House and marches in Washington.
Demonstrators have also interrupted Biden speeches and events.
The protests have been organized by a range of human rights, Jewish and
anti-war activist groups.
"It is unconscionable that an individual with such influence in this
nation would spread unsubstantiated smears targeting those who seek an
end to the slaughter of civilians in Gaza and a just resolution to that
conflict," said Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesperson for CAIR.
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A pro-Palestinian demonstrator tries to stop a NYPD car, as others
take part in a protest, outside Jamaica Station to JFK via AirTrain
in New York City, U.S., January 27, 2024. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File
Photo
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Pelosi's comments "echo a time in our nation when opponents of the
Vietnam War were accused of being communist sympathizers and
subjected to FBI harassment," CAIR National Executive Director Nihad
Awad added.
When asked about the protests against Biden's policy in Gaza,
Democratic U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told NBC
News on Sunday that opposition by many to the war was based on "the
indiscriminate loss of life" in the region.
The U.N. has demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza,
but Washington has vetoed resolutions for such calls in the United
Nations Security Council, saying it would let Palestinian Islamist
group Hamas, which governs Gaza, regroup and rebuild.
Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel killed 1,200 people, according to
Israeli tallies. Israel's subsequent assault on Gaza has killed more
than 26,000 Palestinians, over 1% of the 2.3 million population
there, according to Gaza's health ministry. Many are feared buried
in rubble.
Israeli bombardments have flattened much of the densely populated
enclave, leaving most Gazans homeless, sparking food shortages that
threaten famine and incapacitating most hospitals.
(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in WashingtonEditing by Heather
Timmons, Matthew Lewis and Lisa Shumaker)
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