MARUF CT Press Statements

 Connecticut  Muslim Community Welcomes Meriden Family’s Return Home After U.S. Representative Jahana. Hayes’ Decisive Intervention

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Connecticut  Muslim Community Welcomes Meriden Family’s Return Home After U.S. Representative Jahana. Hayes’ Decisive Intervention

[Hartford, CT] - September 6, 2025 - MARUF CT is pleased to learn that US Representative Jahana Hayes, serving the 5th District of Connecticut, and her team have successfully facilitated the return of Meriden, CT residents, Intifada Aziz Abdelghani and her 14-year-old son, Musa, who were barred from leaving Israel after visiting family in the West Bank. The family had been prevented from departing since August 15, 2025, subjected to multiple interrogations, invasive searches, as well as having their passports confiscated. Why? Simply because they are Palestinians!

https://www.ctinsider.com/recordjournal/article/ct-meriden-israel-palestine-intifada-abdelghani-21026563.php

We extend our sincere gratitude to Representative Jahana Hayes for her efforts and commitment to human rights and social justice.

MARUF CT is grateful that Congresswoman Hayes responded to the calls from her constituents to actively engage with the State Department and Israeli officials to resolve the issue and work through hurdles to ensure that Intifada and Musa are safe and free to come home.

Hend Elsantaricy, co-founder of MARUF CT said that “The experience of Intifada and Musa is not something new for Palestinians who have been living under occupation and through genocide for 77 years. It is important to recognize that thousands of Palestinian families continuously face discrimination, apartheid, arbitrary detention, home demolitions, and forced displacement”.

MARUF CT stands in solidarity with all Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and the occupied territories. We will continue to call on our elected officials to speak up for all Palestinians, not only those who carry American citizenship.

We urge US Congressman Hayes, and all US Representatives, serving our 4 other districts, to deepen their support for the people of Palestine and their commitment to peace and justice by co-sponsoring House Resolution 3565. This resolution, cosponsored by 41 members of Congress, is a vital step toward achieving peace and the opportunity to provide much needed humanitarian aid to a starving population. H.R.3565: To provide for a limitation on the transfer of defense articles and defense services to Israel, is known widely as The Block the Bombs Act.

MARUF CT Co-Founder Vina McDermott noted that recent polls show an overwhelming majority of Americans—68% as of July 2025—oppose Israel’s military actions in Gaza and want to halt the flow of deadly weapons. H.R. 3565 is a historic measure, marking the first time Congress has sought to proactively block arms to Israel.

https://news.gallup.com/poll/692948/u.s.-back-israel-military-action-gaza-new-low.aspx

Vina said that “MARUF believes that by standing firm and taking decisive legislative action, our representatives can help foster a more just and equitable future for all Palestinians affected by the ongoing brutality.” 

We look forward to Congress’s continued leadership and dedication to this important cause and will continue our calls to urge them to co-sponsor H.R. 3565.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3565

Questions? Please contact MARUF CT co-founders Vina McDermott and Hend Elsantaricy at

info@marufct.org

End

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