Zainab Chandry, Maryland Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, (CAIR), was reinstated at the Maryland Commission on Hate Crimes Response and Prevention, two weeks after being suspended for postings on social media about the Israel-Hamas conflict, according to an announcement sent by Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown on Wednesday.

According to the press release, “the law does not give the Attorney General authority to remove or suspend a commissioner before their term expires.”

Chaudry has condemned the Israeli government on her Facebook page and expressed concern about the Palestinian civilians who were killed in the conflict. She called the Israeli government’s actions “genocide” and called for a truce. Public officials, including Del. Joe Vogel (D-Dist. The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington, which has called these statements “antisemitic,” and 18) as well as organizations like the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington.

She wrote, “I’ll never understand why the world erupted in rage over 40 fake Israeli children while turning a complete blind eye to 3,00 real Palestinian babies,” in a post on Oct. 26.

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Associated Press reports that at least 29 children died in Hamas’ Oct. 7 terrorist attack and 30 others were held hostage. Social media reports that claimed 40 babies had been beheaded by Hamas have caused controversy. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, initially said he saw photographic evidence but later retracted this claim. The Israeli government is not able to confirm that 40 babies have been beheaded.

Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 and at least 1,200 people died. Around 240 hostages were also taken. The Washington Post reported in its Nov. 13 edition that over 11,100 Palestinians civilians had been killed since Oct. 7, including 4,609 children.

Chaudry’s posts compared Israel with Nazis, in an image that she reposted from a Facebook user. The image juxtaposed Nazi flags flying on a German Building in 1936 and Israeli flags projected onto the same building 2023.

Chaudry’s post stated that “at that moment, you become the thing you most hate.”

Chaudry told MoCo360 in an email last month that her views are still the same.

Chaudry wrote that “giving in to the pressure of dangerous, defamatory, smear campaign designed to feed the fires anti-Muslim hatred and chill free expression, as well as to silence those who advocate for justice, undermines mission and work of commission.”

She wrote: “None the criticisms I made against Benjamin Netanyahu’s far right, racist, and openly genocide government on my social media accounts have violated any standards known to the commission, and there is no basis legal for suspending my civil rights group, which is mandated under state law,”

In a Wednesday statement, Vogel announced that he intends to introduce legislation allowing commission members to be dismissed. Vogel was the original sponsor of the legislation that created this commission at the 2023 General Assembly.

Vogel wrote: “In light the Attorney-General’s announcement, I requested that legislation be written which I will sponsor in the upcoming session. This legislation would give the Attorney-General the authority to suspend or remove any members of the Commission who violate a code of conduct.” I will ask that this be treated as emergency legislation so that the commission can continue its important mission. I believe that the commission should not meet again until this authority has been granted to Attorney General.

Chaudry sent MoCo360 a CAIR statement.

“We are pleased that Attorney General Anthony Brown has decided to reinstate this appointment. Edward Ahmed Mitchell, CAIR’s Deputy Director, said that he appreciated the productive discussions he had with Attorney General Brown over the last few weeks. “We agree it’s important that the commission develops additional guidelines collaboratively and we look forward in upholding these guidelines, which should apply to all commissioners.

The release stated that according to the statement of the Attorney General’s Office, Brown will be distributing draft operating guidelines prior to the next commission meeting on December 13 “which includes personal communications and how the members can balance their right to freedom to speech with their role as Commissioners and give them feedback.”

The release stated that “by accepting these positions, appointees accept an obligation to set aside their own interests when they come to the table to advise on issues of such public importance,”

Ron Halber is the executive director of JCRC. He released a statement on Wednesday afternoon expressing his disappointment that Chaudry would remain in the commission. Halber criticized Chaudry’s comments last month.

Halber wrote: “We fully supported Attorney General Brown’s decision to suspend her temporarily from the Commission in light of such vicious and antisemitic slanders and wish that it could be permanent.” “Ms. Chaudry continues to be a divisive, polarizing force on the Commission. This undermines its ability in a dramatic way to fulfill its mission.”

In a statement released on Wednesday, CAIR expressed its gratitude to community members for their support of Chaudry. According to CAIR more than 5,500 people signed a protest against Brown’s decision suspending Chaudry.

Mitchell said in a statement that the anti-Muslim harassment and threats directed at Dr. Chaudry were “defamatory and dangerous” and “sadly, only a small sample of what other American Muslims experienced in recent weeks.” It is now more important than ever that the State of Maryland combat Islamophobia, antisemitism and anti-Palestinian racist attitudes.