President's Message
Dear John,
Iranian Americans who have had their bank accounts closed or who have been subjected to invasive and persistent questioning by their banks because of their Iranian heritage were dealt another blow in the effort to stop banking discrimination.
Two years ago, Bank of America was sued for shutting down the bank account of an Iranian green card holder whose account was closed despite him complying with the bank’s repeated requests to prove his residency. Over the course of the lawsuit, the bank was forced to reveal that they had shut down a staggering 15,000 bank accounts of Iranian Americans and Iranians in the U.S.
But late last week, the court ruled that Bank of America is partially shielded from such lawsuits [[link removed]] because actions that appear to be discriminatory may be necessary for the bank to comply with broad U.S. sanctions.
The ruling validates what has been the status quo for years: it is okay for banks to discriminate against you due to your Iranian heritage because national security policies take precedence over your civil rights.
So what are the sanctions that are more important than your civil rights? Well, U.S. sanctions say it is illegal for a bank to provide services to anyone who is currently inside Iran. So, god forbid, if an Iranian American visits family in Iran and checks their bank balance online while in Iran, the bank could face major penalties. Hence, banks go to enormous lengths to profile and ultimately screen out customers whose heritage may expose the bank to such liabilities.
Perhaps if the sanctions actually worked to improve human rights or reduce tensions in the region or achieve any positive goal, one could rationalize sacrificing their ability to maintain a bank account in the service of these measures. As it is, it’s just more salt in the wound of a failed policy. That is why we will double down on our efforts, through advocacy and legal means, to stand up to these failed sanctions and to stand up for the civil rights of our community.
- Jamal Abdi
Read more: Judge Sides with Bank of America Against Discrimination Lawsuit [[link removed]]
No War
Israeli Attack Kills Senior Iranian Officials in Damascus, Deepening Regional Tensions [[link removed]] [link removed] [[link removed]]Last week, Israel conducted unprecedented strikes on the Iranian embassy compound in Syria, killing senior Iranian military officials in a dangerous escalatory move. The attack was a violation of international law and a reckless provocation that could upended the de facto truce that was established following the most recent dangerous flashpoint between the U.S. and Iran — when 3 U.S. service members were killed by an Iran-linked militia. Restraint prevailed then but Israel's action could now prompt Iran to enter this conflict directly.
We are deeply concerned by reports that Iran may retaliate militarily – which may have very well been the intent of the Israeli strike: to enlarge the conflict by bringing in Iran and forcing the hand of the U.S. to enter as well. In our latest issue of Iran Unfiltered [[link removed]] , we analyze the dynamics inside of Iran and indications that officials may be coalescing around maintaining "strategic patience" to avoid such a scenario. A serious military response may pull the U.S., Israel and Iran into a bloody war that spans across the region's borders and costs countless lives.
This must be avoided, and NIAC calls on the United States to work urgently with other actors to deconflict and avert the opening of a new, deadly war.
Ceasefire Week of Action
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To end the humanitarian crisis and violence in Gaza that threatens to spiral across the region, we are taking direct action in Washington D.C. in less than two weeks on April 15. NIAC Action, alongside a coalition of over 40 organizations, will be mobilizing a Week of Action for Ceasefire on Capitol Hill to double down on the urgent demand for a ceasefire and for the U.S. to utilize its considerable leverage to stop the killing, halt the slide to regional war, and pursue a political solution to the many challenges at hand.
During this Week of Action, NIAC Action chapter members will be meeting with their Congressperson and Senators - including a contingent of NIAC Action volunteers from outside of Washington who we will be bussing into the events.
Sign up to volunteer here [[link removed]] and stay tuned for more details.
Building Political Power
[link removed] [[link removed]]AIPAC has exercised massive influence on Capitol Hill and in the White House and promoted hawkish and disastrous U.S. Middle East policies. After they suffered their first major defeat in 2015 with the Iran nuclear deal, AIPAC retooled and has come back more aggressively than ever. They and their affiliated groups have poured millions into defeating candidates who dare to promote a just foreign policy or disagree with Benjamin Netanyahu. This year, AIPAC is threatening to spend over $100 million to defeat progressive champions in Congress who have dared to question Israel’s disastrous war in Gaza.
That's why NIAC Action is proud to be part of the Reject AIPAC campaign [[link removed]] with over a dozen progressive organizations, including US Campaign for Palestinian Rights, Justice Democrats, IfNotNow and Jewish Voice for Peace Action. We are demanding that any candidates who want our support CANNOT take money from AIPAC and its affiliates.
Already, this campaign has been covered by ABC [[link removed]] , Rolling Stone [[link removed]] , the Guardian [[link removed]] , Huffington Post [[link removed]] and shared by progressive champions including Reps. Jamaal Bowman [[link removed]] (D-NY), Ilhan Omar [[link removed]] (D-MN), Mark Pocan [[link removed]] (D-WI) and Pramila Jayapal [[link removed]] (D-WA).
The #RejectAIPAC coalition is stepping up to meet this moment. Many of these lawmakers under attack are our biggest champions in supporting a people-first foreign policy that ends collective punishment sanctions on ordinary Iranians and puts diplomacy ahead of war. Stay tuned for more updates on this campaign.
Join the campaign at the AIPAC IS TOXIC [[link removed]] Forum on April 10th!
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>> RSVP HERE [[link removed]]
Iranian Americans will finally be counted in the U.S. census
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After decades of research, education and advocacy by NIAC and many others, the next Census in 2030 will officially include Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) as a category option, with “Iranian” included as a subcategory, among others.For the 2030 Census and additional government surveys, the addition of a MENA category will finally address the significant gaps in research and policymaking on subjects like socioeconomic conditions, civic engagement, and health disparities relevant to the Iranian-American and other MENA communities.
After years of advocacy work, our community is finally going to be counted. Politicians will know exactly how many of us there are in their district and MENA business owners will be eligible for minority grants and public support programs. This is a big win for our political power.
Human Rights Tracker
Mandate of UN Special Rapporteur and Fact-Finding Committee’s Mission on Iran Human Rights Renewed [[link removed]]
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The United Nations Human Rights Council has renewed its commitment to scrutinizing human rights practices in Iran by extending the mandates of both the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, currently occupied by Javaid Rehman, and the investigative fact-finding mission probing rights violations in the 2022 protests.
In a significant vote held on April 4, the Council saw 24 nations endorsing the extension, 8 opposing, and 15 abstaining. The vote, taken during the Council’s 55th session in Geneva, signifies a broader effort to ensure continuous oversight over Iran’s adherence to international human rights norms, especially following the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom protests which saw a brutal crackdown on citizens.
Read Past Issues of NIAC's Human Rights Tracker Here >> [[link removed]]
Iran Unfiltered
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Read all about these stories in this week’s Iran Unfiltered, a digest tracking Iranian politics & society by the National Iranian American Council [[link removed]]
Community & Culture - Norooz Pirooz!
Norooz Pirooz from NIAC’s chapters!
As part of our work advocating for states and localities to officially recognize Norooz, NIAC members have held and organized Norooz gatherings around the country. Check out some highlights and haftseen’s from around the country over the past month!
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Get involved with your local NIAC chapter or with allied groups in your area!!
>> Click here to sign up [[link removed]]
Stay Engaged
Follow NIAC on TikTok [[link removed]] , Twitter [[link removed]] , Instagram [[link removed]] , and Facebook [[link removed]] for the latest updates.
Support Our Work
Your continued support is crucial. Donate today to help us make a difference. [[link removed]]
Thank you for standing with us as we navigate these challenging times and strive for peace, justice, and human rights.
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