(WASHINGTON, DC, 6/16/2022) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today announced the filing of its brief before the Fifth Circuit in CAIR’s First Amendment lawsuit on behalf of an engineering firm, owned by Rasmy Hassouna, that refused to sign an anti-BDS loyalty oath to Israel as part of the company’s contract with the City of Houston. 

Earlier this year, United States District Judge Andrew S. Hanen, granted an injunction that blocks Texas from enforcing the anti-boycott law against Hassouna’s firm, A&R. 

Defending Judge Hanen’s injunction, the brief explains:  

“If the First Amendment means anything, it means the Government should be prohibited from punishing people for taking sides in political controversies. And it should be prohibited from probing into individuals’ political beliefs by forcing them to explain why they do or do not make personal choices such as what product to buy.” 

READ: CAIR’s Brief on behalf of A&R 

https://www.cair.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ARbrief.pdf

“Rasmy is just a really great guy, who immigrated here from Gaza, who is just trying to do the right thing,” said Senior Litigation Attorney Gadeir Abbas. “Texas should not punish him for his political views.” 

“We understand that despite the horror of Israel’s blockade, that supporting or opposing Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank is politically controversial,” explained CAIR Trial Attorney Justin Sadowsky. “But the First Amendment requires that controversy to be decided by the people, not the Government.”

SEE: CAIR Welcomes Federal Judge’s Ruling That Texas Anti-BDS Law Violates Client’s Free Speech Rights   

CAIR’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. 

La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, proteger las libertades civiles, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos. 

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CONTACT: CAIR National Litigation Director Lena Masri, 202-642-4934, lmasri@cair.com; CAIR Senior Litigation Attorney Gadeir Abbas, 720-251-0425, gabbas@cair.com; CAIR Trial Attorney Justin Sadowsky, 202-752-6440, jsadowsky@cair.com