Chaudry in 2023

Zainab Chaudry is an American Muslim civil rights and political activist. She is the Maryland Director for the Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR).[1]

Education

Chaudry holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Maryland.[2]

Career

In 2015, Chaudry became the first Muslim appointed to the Maryland State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights – an independent, bipartisan agency established by Congress in 1957 that advises the President and Congress on civil rights matters.[3][4]

She was a 'Nominated Changemaker' at the 2016 White House Summit on the United State of Women.[5] Additionally, she was recognized as one of the Baltimore Sun's 25 'Women to Watch' in 2016.[6]

Working with the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights and the Maryland Governor's Office on Community Initiatives, Chaudry organized Maryland's first statewide emergency preparedness summit for interfaith leaders.[7] She is the Maryland Director for the Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR).[1]

In August 2023 Chaudry was nominated to the Maryland Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention.[8]

Controversy

In 2023, Chaudry supported a protest by Muslim, Christian, and Jewish parents demanding a right to continue to opt-out of LGBT materials required by the Montgomery County School Board in Montgomery County, Maryland.[9][10][11]

Following the 2023 Israel–Hamas war Chaudry had posted several comments on her private social media accounts in which she compared Israel to Nazis, criticized Israel's response to the October 7 Hamas-led attack, and condemned the killing of innocent civilians.[12][13] Chaudry refused to retract or apologize for these comments, stating her posts were taken out of context and her First Amendment rights were infringed upon.[14] In response to these comments, Chaudry was temporarily suspended from the Maryland Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention on November 21, 2023. She was reinstated on December 6, 2023, as there is no legal mechanism for suspension or early termination of membership in the commission.[15][16][17]

References

  1. 1 2 Thompson, Rachel (April 19, 2017). "Zainab Chaudry: One of Baltimore's most prominent civil rights leaders". WMAR.
  2. ↑ Hanley, Delinda C. (June–July 2013). "Muslim American Activism: CAIR Inaugurates Maryland Office". Washington Report on Middle East Affairs.
  3. ↑ "USCCR Press Release" (PDF). usccr.gov (Press release). December 5, 2015. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  4. ↑ Kelley, Quinn (January 24, 2017). "Female Trouble podcast: Zainab Chaudry, activist and CAIR spokeswoman (episode 27)". The Baltimore Sun.
  5. ↑ "Biography" (PDF). nicd.arizona.edu. National Institute for Civil Discourse. July 11, 2016. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  6. ↑ "Baltimore Sun 25 'Women to Watch'". The Baltimore Sun. October 5, 2016. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  7. ↑ "At Emergency Preparedness Summit, Faith Leaders Focus On Keeping Congregations Safe". The Baltimore Sun. December 7, 2015. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Zainab Chaudry Archives". Nottingham MD. August 4, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  9. ↑ "US: Muslim parents protest losing right to opt out of LGBTQ school books". Middle East Eye. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Should parents have the right to opt their children out of lessons on LGBTQ+ issues?". Deseret News. August 30, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  11. ↑ Kamman, Samantha; Reporter, Christian Post (August 12, 2023). "Religiously diverse parents sue Maryland school district for right to opt kids out of LGBT lessons". The Christian Post. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Member of Maryland hate crime commission temporarily suspended for social media posts on Israel-Hamas war". WTOP News. November 22, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  13. ↑ Gillespie, Brandon (November 21, 2023). "Maryland hate crime task force member claimed babies murdered by Hamas were 'fake,' compared Israel to Nazis". Fox News. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Leader of Md. chapter of CAIR temporarily suspended from hate crime task force for social media posts on Israel-Hamas war". Maryland Matters. November 22, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Maryland Hate Crimes Commission member suspended following social media comments - CBS Baltimore". www.cbsnews.com. November 21, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  16. ↑ Shepherd, Katie (November 21, 2023). "Member of Md. hate-crime task force suspended for anti-Israel remarks". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Maryland attorney general reinstates Zainab Chaudry to Hate Crimes Commission". WBAL Baltimore News. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.