In a recent awards ceremony, Ramzi Kassem, chief counsel to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, publicly praised activist Zahra Billoo, who has faced criticism for her inflammatory comments regarding Israel and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). The event, held by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in December, saw Kassem accept the organization’s “Defender of the Truth” award, during which he lauded Billoo as a “gift” to Muslims globally.
Kassem’s remarks highlighted the importance of community leadership, declaring, “Alhamdulillah [praise be to God], there is no shortage of models for us in our own communities.” He continued by emphasizing Billoo’s contributions to the CAIR chapter, stating that her work serves as an example of unwavering commitment to advocacy within the Muslim community.
Billoo, who leads CAIR’s chapter in the San Francisco Bay Area, has a controversial history of comments regarding Zionism and has been known to justify the actions of groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. A notable instance occurred in 2009 when she expressed gratitude for Hezbollah’s actions following a rocket attack on Israel that injured several individuals. Her social media presence often includes comparisons that draw parallels between the IDF and terrorist organizations, asserting that the former is “more militant and murderous” than groups like the Islamic State.
The activist has made headlines for her provocative statements, including a 2015 tweet questioning whether the United States would “hunt down and kill the IDF terrorists,” echoing sentiments from a Republican primary debate in which Senator Ted Cruz discussed targeting ISIS fighters.
Billoo has also faced backlash for her comments comparing Israel’s military actions to the Holocaust, asserting that the Israeli military operates as a “genocidal terrorist organization.” Such statements have raised significant concerns among various political and community leaders regarding the implications of her rhetoric.
As Kassem praised Billoo’s leadership at the CAIR ceremony, it remains unclear whether he was fully aware of her contentious remarks. The Jewish Chronicle has reached out to Billoo, Kassem, CAIR, and City Hall for further comments on this matter.
The implications of these endorsements are significant, as they reflect ongoing tensions within discussions about Israel, Palestine, and the broader Muslim community’s engagement in political discourse in the United States. The dialogue surrounding these issues continues to evolve, highlighting the complexities of advocacy and the diverse perspectives that shape it.
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