09-04-2007, 09:43 PM
(TAMPA, FL, 9/4/07) - On Wednesday, September 5, the Tampa office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Tampa) will hold a news conference with a Lakeland Muslim mother whose seven children, all American citizens, are trapped in the occupied West Bank by Israeli authorities.
WHAT: Lakeland Mother Appeals for Safe Return of Her Children
WHEN: Wednesday, September 5, 2007, 1 p.m.
WHERE: CAIR-Tampa Office, 8056 N. 56th Street, Tampa, FL
CONTACT: CAIR-Tampa Executive Director Ahmed Bedier, 813-731-9506, E-Mail: abedier@cair.com
The Muslim mother says she and her children were visiting the West Bank during the summer break. When the family attempted to return through Tel Aviv airport on their scheduled flight, Israeli authorities denied travel to the seven young people, ages 7 to 22. The mother was allegedly told that, despite her children's U.S. citizenship, they could not travel through the Israeli airport because they are of Palestinian heritage.
CAIR recently assisted members of two other Muslim families from Arizona and Tennessee who were blocked by Israel from leaving the Gaza Strip.
CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Rabiah Ahmed, 202-488-8787 or 202-439-1441, E-Mail: rahmed@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com