SAN JOSE — The American interfaith group, PACT, has reinstated its award on June 28 to a Muslim leader after weeks of rescinding it under pressure from Jewish lobbyists, Mercury News reported.
In an official statement to community members and leaders, the group, called People Acting in Community Together (PACT), apologized for rescinding Zahra Billoo’s award earlier this month and vowed to improve its work with the Muslim community.
“In our efforts to be responsive to one set of leaders, we inadvertently participated in efforts to silence a faith leader and close partner expressing moral critique of an ongoing human rights crisis in Palestine,” the statement said.
“In fact, conversations are much needed about the injustice that occurs every day in Palestine, and its connection to the issues we work on including racism, border walls, and police violence.”
In a kind response from Billoo, she said: “the proposal includes incredible opportunities for future collaborations and i’m proud of PACT for making the right decision.”
“I’m relieved that this entire process is now a closed chapter. In some ways I’m happy that the efforts to silence me backfired and actually created more conversations in the region about Palestinians and human rights violations.”
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In a series of Tweets earlier this month, Billoo informed that PACT leaders approached her saying there was mounting opposition from some group members about the award, that their institutional funding was at stake and that members were threatening to leave.
After they suggested alternatives — which included honoring the Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a whole or someone else within the organization — Billoo replied with refusal and told PACT leaders they’d have to rescind the award, which they did.
After this incident, a number of about 40 community organizations and individuals signed a letter, asking PACT to apologize to Billoo and reinstate the award.