We are Jews from North Carolina and Rabbis from around the country who are writing to support the asylum case and release on bond of Imam Abdullah Khadra and oppose any effort to deport him to Syria.

Imam Khadra is an asylum seeker who is currently being held at Stewart Detention Center in Georgia pending a deportation hearing. Imam Khadra is Director of Islamic Education and Youth Development at the Islamic Association of Cary, and has been influential in the Cary Mosque, as well as larger Islamic communities in Raleigh, North Carolina. He has a long track record of calling for peace, equality, and unity.

Last year, while encouraging his congregation to take action around education, legal protest, and prayer, Imam Khadra read a quotation from the Hadith about end of times that many perceived to be antisemitic. As Jews, we are deeply concerned about antisemitism, and we’re committed to engaging Christian and Muslim communities in education that will eliminate antisemitism and racism.

After the Jewish community learned of the speech last year, Imam Khadra met with local rabbis to discuss what had happened, and he apologized for his phrasing.

We know that Imam Khadra is dedicated to peace and unity, and he has a history of preaching that Jews, Christians, and Muslims are the same, and about treating non-Muslims with kindness above all else. He has made valuable contributions to our local community and deserves to remain a part of it.

We know that we have much work to do to continue building solidarity between Jewish and Muslim communities to oppose antisemitism and Islamophobia. Efforts to deport Imam Khadra because of his speech last year will only undermine the bridges that we need to be building.

As Jews of conscience, we know that communication and education are the best ways to combat antisemitism, not deportation. Deportation to Syria could put Imam Khadra in a dangerous situation. We support him, and all refugees, in finding asylum and safety here in North Carolina.

Please bring Imam Khadra home to his community in Cary.