NAML Calls on ABA to Reject Pressure to Release ‘Morally Bankrupt’ Statement Justifying Killing of Palestinian Civilians
(WASHINGTON, DC - 11/20/2023) - The National Association of Muslim Lawyers (NAML), the national bar association for American Muslims and the largest association of Muslim legal professionals in the United States, today called on the American Bar Association (ABA) to resist pressure to replace a statement it previously released that described the deliberate targeting of Israeli and Palestinian civilians as violations of international law with a new statement that would argue that the Israeli government's ongoing killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza can be legally justified.
In a statement, National Association of Muslim Lawyers President Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:
"The American Bar Association did the right thing when it issued a balanced, fair and accurate statement that affirmed the importance of international legal protections for all civilians and recognized the value of all civilian life, including both Palestinians and Israelis.
"We are deeply concerned to learn that some lawyers who support the Israeli government's ongoing offensive in Gaza are pressuring the ABA to replace its balanced statement with a new statement that would apparently justify the killing of civilians. This is a morally bankrupt position for these lawyers to take and a ludicrous fight for them to pick with the ABA.
"The American Bar Association should stand by its balanced statement and reject pressure to release a new statement that justifies the killing of civilians. Caving to this pressure would undermine both the mission and reputation of the most important legal association in the United States."
BACKGROUNDER:
On Oct. 9th, 2023, the ABA released a statement about the Hamas attack on southern Israel that condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with Israel. The statement did not acknowledge the Palestinian civilians who had been killed in the Israeli government's escalating bombing campaign of the Gaza Strip.
After the civilian death toll in Gaza rose further, the ABA released a second statement on Oct. 17th that acknowledged the suffering of both Palestinians and Israelis, referred to the targeting of any civilians as a violation of international law, and expressed support for legal professionals impacted by rising antisemitism, Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism.
In the month since then, a group of attorneys who support the Israeli government's offensive in Gaza have been privately demanding that the ABA rescind and replace its Oct. 17th statement.
According to emails shared with NAML, a group of attorneys especially object to the ABA's declaration that the targeted "killing” of civilians is a violation of international law. Israel's killing of civilians in Gaza can be justified under international law, the critics argue, and the ABA should say so.
The ABA has now removed both its original Oct. 9th statement that ignored the Palestinian civilians and its follow-up Oct. 17 statement which acknowledged both Israeli and Palestinian civilians from its website.
According to the emails provided to NAML, attorneys who support the Israeli government are still pressuring the ABA to approve the release of a new statement that would argue that killing civilians can be justified under international law.
[NOTE: Journalists may request access to copies of the messages provided by contacting NAML at council@naml.info ]
NAML is the national bar association for American Muslims and the largest association of legal professionals in the United States. NAML works to mentor, empower, network and train American Muslim lawyers, law students and other legal professionals. NAML's Board of Directors represents 15 regional Muslim bar associations, as well as the National Muslim Law Students Association.
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CONTACT: National Association of Muslim Lawyers, 404-285-9530, council@naml.info
