The Maryland Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention is under scrutiny from the Jewish community once again with the selection and subsequent resignation of Ayman Nassar, CEO of the Maryland-based Islamic Leadership Institute, from the commission amid accusations of antisemitism.
Nassar was appointed to the commission on July 31 by Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown, replacing former commission member Zainab Chaudry, after reforms spearheaded by the recently-formed Maryland Jewish Legislative Caucus were passed by the Maryland General Assembly during its last session due to the controversy around Chaudry’s social media postings that led to a brief suspension in November.
The legislation required all members of the commission to re-apply for their positions this summer and Chaudry, the Maryland director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, did not apply, leading to the selection of Nassar.
Nassar resigned on Aug. 19, citing a “coordinated Islamophobic campaign of hate and online bullying,” targeting him from the Middle East Forum and writer Benjamin Baird, who published an op-ed in the Jewish News Syndicate on Aug. 15 heavily criticizing Nassar’s associations and past public statements and accusing Nassar of “the same radical antisemitic views that cost his predecessor her seat on the commission.”
The Middle East Forum is a Philadelphia-based conservative think tank that says it “promotes American interests in the Middle East and protects Western values from Middle Eastern threats,” according to its website.
The attorney general’s office confirmed the resignation of Nassar but did not comment on the controversy.
“On Monday, August 19, 2024, Attorney General Brown accepted the resignation of Mr. Ayman Nassar from the Maryland Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention,” Brown’s office said in an email.
Despite being selected by the attorney general’s office, every member of the commission was serving as acting commissioner until a Maryland Senate confirmation in January.
Baird’s article laid out several claims against Nassar, including Nassar’s association with a nonprofit that allegedly lobbied for the release of convicted terrorists and “hate speech” on his social media pages.
The article provided photos of the controversial LinkedIn posts that led to the backlash, although the Jewish Times could not independently verify their veracity as the posts did not appear on Nassar’s page during a review prior to publication.
Nassar wrote in a LinkedIn post announcing his resignation that his work and affiliations were mischaracterized and that unfounded accusations and inflammatory language were used to silence his voice because of his political opinions.
“It is troubling to witness the extent to which the forces of bigotry and online bullying can influence our state’s leadership. The campaign against me has not only been a personal attack but also an assault on the integrity of the commission and the important work it is meant to do,” Nassar wrote.
He added that his decision to resign was due to a desire to avoid wasting energy on these “distractions from the commission’s work” that could be better spent moving the shared mission of anti-hate forward.
Brown’s office is searching for a replacement for Nassar, who will be appointed acting commissioner until Senate approval.
“The Office of the Attorney General is extending outreach to the Muslim community across Maryland as the Office launches a search to fill the now-vacated seat. It is critical that Commission membership reflects those communities that have been most impacted by hate activity in Maryland. We look forward to the contribution of the entire membership in this important work for our State,” Brown’s office wrote in an email.
But despite Nassar’s resignation, having a second controversy just months after the Chaudry saga has left many in the local Jewish community with questions over how this has happened again.
Some community leaders are advocating for a more thorough screening process for future appointees to identify potentially objectionable content prior to the person’s appointment.
“Ayman Nassar’s resignation from the Maryland Commission on Hate Crimes Response and Prevention is addition by subtraction. Like Zainab Chaudry before him, Nassar’s clear animus toward Israel and support for terrorist organizations like Hamas made him unfit to participate on a commission dedicated to reducing violence and promoting community safety,” said Ron Halber, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, which has a member on the commission.
“At JCRC, we believe deeply in working and building relationships with individuals and organizations from other faiths. There is no shortage of Muslim leaders in Maryland who could provide invaluable contributions to the commission. We look forward to working with them in our collective efforts to fight antisemitism and all other forms of hatred and discrimination,” Halber added.
