Muslim member of Maryland's hate crimes commission resigns after anti-Semitism allegations

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A Muslim member of Maryland's hate crimes commission resigned Monday amid what he called “a coordinated Islamophobic hate campaign and online bullying by anti-Palestinian and anti-Muslim groups.”

Ayman Nassar, CEO of the Islamic Leadership Institute, was appointed to the Maryland Commission on Hate Crime Response and Prevention by Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown on July 31. He resigned after the Middle East Forum, a pro-Israel group, accused him of anti-Semitism and homophobia. Nassar said his statements supporting Palestinian liberation had been falsely interpreted as support for terrorism.

“It is disturbing to see the extent to which the forces of bigotry and online bullying can influence the leadership of our state,” Nassar wrote in a LinkedIn post on Monday. “The campaign against me was not only a personal attack, but also an attack on the integrity of the commission and the important work it is supposed to do.”

He told The Daily Record that he was targeted because he said Palestinians were living in an “apartheid” situation and because he described Israel's war on Gaza as “genocide”.

“It is disturbing to see the extent to which the forces of bigotry and online bullying can influence the leadership of our state,” he wrote in his LinkedIn post. “The campaign against me was not only a personal attack, but also an attack on the integrity of the Commission and the important work it is supposed to do.”

“Using baseless allegations and inflammatory language to silence voices challenging certain political narratives sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the very purpose of the Commission,” he continued. “To be nominated as a hate crime prevention commissioner and then to be targeted for blatant discrimination and racism is incredibly demoralizing.”

The Attorney General's office confirmed Nassar's resignation from the commission, but declined to give reasons, citing personnel law.

“The Attorney General's Office is expanding its outreach efforts to the Muslim community across Maryland as it launches a search for a new seat,” spokeswoman Jennifer Donelan wrote in an email to The Daily Record. “It is critical that the commission's membership reflect those communities most impacted by hate activity in Maryland.”

Nassar's resignation came after similar allegations were made against Zainab Chaudry, a former commission member and director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Maryland. Chaudry was temporarily suspended last fall after being accused of anti-Semitism, but completed her term. She declined to seek re-election after legislation restructured the commission.

About two weeks after Nassar's appointment, the Middle East Forum published a column headlined “Maryland Attorney General Replaces One Hater with Another on Hate Crimes Panel.”

The forum, according to its website, “promotes American interests in the Middle East and protects Western values ​​from Middle Eastern threats.” The group says, “We focus on ways to defeat radical Islam; we work toward Palestinian acceptance of Israel; we develop strategies to contain Iran; and we deal with advancing anarchy.”

The author of the article, Benjamin Baird, heads the forum's political arm and, according to his X-Account, is a member of the advisory board of Project 2025, the controversial playbook for the next Republican president.

“Nassar's own social media history shows that he adheres to the same radical anti-Semitic views that cost his predecessor her seat on the Commission,” Baird wrote, saying his social media pages are “filled with hate speech and offensive comments.”

In an interview, Chaudry, who has also been targeted for alleged anti-Semitism, said the group was “confusing criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism.”

“This is just an indication of the relentless efforts of malicious actors seeking to delegitimize (criticism of Israeli policies),” Chaudry said, adding that they are “desperately trying to silence any voice they perceive as critical of the apartheid state of Israel.”

Chaudry, who declined to seek re-election to her seat on the commission last month, said Brown was “giving in to hate prejudice” and that “a lot of people feel very let down.”

“It is very disappointing,” she said, “that his office feels compelled to give in to these campaigns.”