The American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is undergoing a massive shakeup after over a dozen women accused one of its top officials of workplace sexual harassment.Not related.
An ADC spokesperson has been fired and four female staffers resigned afterreportedly criticizing how the organization handled the allegations against ADC’s former Michigan director, Imad Hamad.
At least 15 women, including Michigan state Rep. Rashida Tlaib, have accused Hamad of sexual harassment, ranging from lewd comments to aggressive groping.
The ADC determined that there was “insufficient evidence” of harassment after an internal investigation. While Hamad stepped down from his position as Michigan director over the summer, he continues to serve as a senior adviser.
Raed Jarrar, the communications director for the ADC, told the Detroit Free Press that he was terminated last month after raising questions the legitimacy of the investigation.
ADC’s national vice president Nabil Mohamad denied that Jarrar’s firing was related to his inquiries about the case.
“That’s two different issues, they’re not related,” Mohamad told the Washington Free Beacon. “It’s being said by others, but not by the ADC.”
All of the women who worked in the national office of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee resigned this week in protest of the group's recent dismissal of its national communications director after he spoke out against sexual harassment, according to current and former ADC members.The ADC also has put on probation its national president, Warren David, and is pressuring him to resign.Four women who worked for the ADC in Washington, D.C., had gone on strike on Oct. 21 after the ADC removed Raed Jarrar, who had been its national communications director and was critical of how the group dealt with sexual harassment allegations against the former Michigan director, Imad Hamad.Jarrar said ADC officials told him on Oct. 18 that he was being laid off effective immediately in a "restructuring."