Hi Friend,

I want to give you an update and an important project that we’ve been working on at Muslim Advocates.

Ever since the 2017 killing of Muhammad Muhaymin, Jr. at the hands of Phoenix police officers, Muslim Advocates has been working to support and uplift the Muhaymin family in their struggle for justice.

Mr. Muhaymin was a black, disabled Muslim who was pinned to the ground, mocked for his Muslim faith and killed during his arrest.

To date, no officer involved in the killing has been held responsible. To seek accountability, the Muhaymin family has sued the city of Phoenix. This past May, however, a federal judge abruptly sealed the hearings and court documents, cutting off public and press access to them. The public deserves to witness these hearings. Recently, we filed a motion asking a judge to unseal the court records.

By sealing these important records, the Muhaymin family was hurt in their quest for justice and the press and public were robbed of an important conversation about systemic, anti-Black violence in the Phoenix Police Department. More than four years after Muhammad Muhaymin Jr. was killed, no officer has been held accountable and the city of Phoenix continues to do nothing. Like the family of George Floyd, the Muhaymin family deserves the opportunity to tell the world about the insurmountable loss of their loved one and the chance to shine a light on the injustices that led to his death.

This is one more step in our long campaign to support the Muhaymin family as they fight for accountability.

Last year, Muslim Advocates worked with the Muhayimin family to release the police body camera footage. In the footage, Mr. Muhaymin can be heard pleading for his life, “I can’t breathe” followed by the prayer “Please Allah.” In response, the officer can be heard saying, “Allah? He’s not going to help you right now.”

We also brought together 61 national and Arizona-based organizations in a letter campaign calling on the county attorney and the mayor of Phoenix to hold the police department accountable.

Recently, the Justice Department (DOJ) announced an investigation into “whether the Phoenix Police Department engages in a pattern or practice of violations of the Constitution or federal law.” The DOJ’s announcement comes two months after Muslim Advocates called on Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco to investigate Mr. Muhaymin’s death. We also sent the DOJ a letter from Mr. Muhaymin’s youngest daughter.

We know that moral support is crucial during these times. That’s why on January 4th, we joined the Muhaymin family to mark four years since Mr. Muhaymin’s death and organize care packages for the homeless and a tribute card in his name.

So far, one fact stubbornly remains the same: No one has been held accountable for Mr. Muhaymin’s killing.

Everywhere the Muhaymin family has gone for accountability, they have been denied: by the City of Phoenix, by the Maricopa County Attorney and the Phoenix Police Department. The Justice Department’s investigation is an important step forward towards finally obtaining justice for the Muhaymin family.

Things don’t have to be this way but nothing will change unless we keep demanding it. Thank you for helping us work with Mr. Muhaymin’s family.

In solidarity,

Sanaa Ansari

Staff Attorney

Muslim Advocates