After an outpouring of protests from the Jewish community, Ayman Nassar has resigned from the Maryland Commission on Hate Crimes Response and Prevention.
Nassar is chair of the Aafia Foundation, which seeks the release of Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani national known as “Lady Al-Qaeda” who is serving an 86-year prison sentence on charges of attempted murder, as well as other convicted terrorists.
The foundation’s Facebook page refers to Hamas terrorists as “Palestinian resistance fighters” and calls the atrocities of Oct. 7 “malicious, deliberately untrue, propaganda.”
On social media, Nassar called the war in Gaza “more than a genocide” and claimed that Palestinians have been taken as body organ donors before being murdered by Israelis.
Nassar was recently appointed by Attorney General Anthony G. Brown to serve on the commission.
“Today, Attorney General Brown accepted the resignation of Mr. Ayman Nassar from the Maryland Commission on Hate Crimes Response and Prevention,” read a statement from the attorney general’s office. “The Commission, comprised of dedicated individuals who are committed to addressing these important issues, is charged with the development of strategies to address hate crimes and hate bias activity and the evaluation of Maryland laws and policies related to hate crimes. The Office of the Attorney General is extending outreach to the Muslim community across Maryland as it launches a search to fill the now-vacated seat.
“It is critical that Commission membership reflects those communities that have been most impacted by hate activity in Maryland. We look forward to their contribution to this important work in our State.”
The resignation follows last year’s appointment of Zainab Chaudry, Maryland director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, who has publicly compared Israel to Nazi Germany. She was ousted from the commission last May and replaced with Nassar.
In a statement, the Council of Baltimore Region Activists called Nassar’s appointment “a repeat of the poor judgment [Brown] exercised with last year’s appointment of Zainab Chaudry, which prompted the Maryland Legislature to enact legislation completely revamping the Commission. The selection of Mr. Nassar (like the prior, discredited selection of Ms. Chaudry) defies the Legislature, makes a mockery of the Commission and legitimates individuals who should be shunned rather than bestowed the honor of serving on governmental panels. …
“COBRA calls on AG Brown to stop selecting haters of Israel to an anti-hate commission, and to replace Mr. Nassar with an individual who is committed to combatting hate rather than promoting it.”
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