|
| Tlaib. |
State Representative Rashida Tlaib has issued a statement on the findings of ADC’s sexual harassment investigation against former Regional Director of ADC-MI, Imad Hamad. The organization issued a statement on Friday, stating that there had been “insufficient evidence” in determining whether sexual harassment had been conducted by Hamad.
Tlaib released the following statement on Monday;
“On Friday, September 27, 2013, the American Arab Anti Discrimination Committee released a statement concluding a 4-month investigation into sexual harassment allegations against Imad Hamad brought by numerous women who worked, volunteered and sought help at its Michigan office.
While I was at first encouraged by the announcement of an independent investigation months ago and trusted the premier Arab American civil rights organization to seek justice in the face of these serious allegations, today I am deeply disappointed and concerned. Through ADC’s inaction years ago and once again in recent days, the National Board has revictimized the women who had the strength to come forward and the countless others who remained silent. ADC’s whitewash of statement is dishonest and betrays logic. ADC National Board’s decision to remove Imad Hamad from his post, yet retain him as an adviser contradicts their findings that the facts were inconclusive.
As an organization devoted to justice and government transparency, ADC National Board should release a redacted version of the independent investigator’s report so that the community can have an informed seat at the table and truly assess the veracity of the findings.
Four months ago, ADC National Board President, Dr. Safa Rifka, hired Theresa Gorman, a local attorney, to investigate these allegations. Atty. Gorman told me at our first meeting that she was only hired to conduct a fact-finding investigation, and that she was not authorized by President Rifka to provide legal advice or recommendations. Therefore, the ADC National Board decision is self-serving and was solely based on internal politics of the organization and not based on the facts, testimony and affidavits collected by Gorman.
We must all come together to shine a light on these abuses of power and call for a movement against sexual harassment and violence against women. This movement should start at the steps of ADC.”
Tlaib had originally written ADC an open letter in May, claiming that she and several other women had been sexually harassed by Hamad at the ADC-MI office. In her letter, Tlaib says that she had originally informed the organization about the allegations in 2007, but they failed to warrant a proper investigation on the matter.
ADC placed Hamad on a leave of absence immediately after the allegations garnered heavy media attention. ADC announced last Friday that Hamad would be returning to the ADC-MI office temporarily, in a transitional period that would hand over duties to new ADC-MI Regional Director, Abed Ayoub.
Leave a Reply