PRESS STATEMENT: CAIR-Chicago & CAIR Call on Lawmakers to Take Concrete Action After Israeli Settler Attack on U.S. Citizen from Chicago in West Bank
- For Immediate Release and Distribution -
(CHICAGO, IL, 10/19/2026) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, and its Chicago chapter (CAIR-Chicago) today called on lawmakers to take concrete action after a reported assault on an American citizen from Chicago in the West Bank by Israeli settlers.
Journalist Jasper Nathaniel reported that over a dozen masked settlers attacked Turmus’ayya today, burning an American home and severely beating an American citizen, Chicagoan Mohammed Sakat. Video Nathaniel posted on X shows blood staining the floors of the house.
In a statement, CAIR-Chicago and CAIR said:
“Once again, the extremist thugs supported and enabled by the Israeli government have brutalized an American citizen. Enough is enough. Failing to speak out about this and demand accountability is a betrayal of the American people in favor of a foreign state.
We call on Illinois lawmakers to condemn this vicious attack. We call on members of Congress to demand the U.S. government place sanctions on illegal Israeli settlers and the Israeli military. We call on Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs to divest Illinois’ public funds from Israel Bonds and halt all new purchases and renewals. Illinois taxpayers should not be bankrolling a government that enables attacks on American citizens.
We also call on the U.S. government to launch an independent investigation into the attacks on Mohammed Sakat, Heidi Levine, and all other Americans targeted by Israeli settlers and troops.”
CAIR-Chicago's mission is to defend civil rights, fight bigotry, and promote tolerance.
CONTACT: Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director, 202-870-0166, arehab@cair.com; Hafsa Haider, Communications Director, 561-317-7509, hhaider@cair.com’ CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com