HARTFORD, CT, 8/29/25) — The Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CT) today called on state elected officials and the Trump administration to demand the immediate release of a Meriden, Connecticut mother Intifada Abdelghani and her 14-year-old son Musa, both American citizens, who were prevented from boarding a flight at Ben Gurion Airport on August 14, 2025.
SEE: Meriden woman unable to leave Israel, family says – NBC
[MEDIA AVAILABILITY: CAIR-CT plans to offer a media availability with the father today at 3 p.m. in Meriden. Contact CAIR-CT Chairman Farhan Memon, 203-517-6526, fmemon@cair.com, for details. Photographs of Intifada Abdelghani and Musa can be found here and are free for use in stories.]
They are now stranded in the illegally-occupied West Bank after Israeli officials rejected their American passports and instead demanded Palestinian Authority documents. The family says when the mother complained about her treatment to Israeli authorities, she was reportedly told: “F— you and f— America. We don’t care what they say.” Her son was also allegedly threatened. He was reportedly told: “Do you know what we do to children your age? Do you see what happens on the news?”
CAIR-CT and the family are calling on the U.S. State Department to intervene immediately to secure their safe return. They are also urging Connecticut’s elected representatives — who have voted to provide billions of dollars in aid and arms to Israel — to now use their influence to defend the rights of their own constituents.
The timing has added stress to the family, as the school year in Connecticut has already begun. Fourteen-year-old Musa Abdelghani is missing the start of classes while he remains stranded in the West Bank. The Abdelghani family resides in a part of the illegally-occupied West Bank that has been plagued by repeated incidents of illegal settler violence. Over the past year, human rights organizations and international monitors have documented assaults on Palestinian residents, destruction of property, and restrictions on movement in this area. The family says this volatile environment has compounded their fear and sense of insecurity while they remain stranded and unable to return to Connecticut.
“The U.S. government must act now to bring Intifada and Musa home,” said Farhan Memon, Chairman of CAIR-CT. “This case raises troubling questions that go beyond one family. Are American citizens being treated differently abroad because of their Palestinian heritage? Why haven’t Connecticut’s elected officials intervened more forcefully to protect their constituents? These are fundamental issues of equal treatment, freedom of expression, and government accountability that demand answers.”
BACKGROUNDER:
According to family accounts, Intifada Abdelghani, a naturalized U.S. citizen, and her son Musa, who was born in Indio, California, arrived at Ben Gurion Airport with valid U.S. passports and confirmed Lufthansa tickets to Connecticut. Despite this, Israeli authorities denied them departure and redirected them back to the West Bank.
Reported Incidents at the Airport:
- Passports confiscated: Israeli officials rejected their U.S. passports and requested Palestinian Authority documents.
- Multiple searches: Intifada was reportedly searched eight times, including demands to undress in front of male officers, which she refused.
- Derogatory comments: When she asked for her passport, officers allegedly responded, “F— you and f— America. We don’t care what they say.” A U.S. Embassy officer reportedly overheard this exchange while on the phone with the family..
- Child intimidation: Musa, 14, was allegedly told, “Do you know what we do to children your age? Do you see what happens on the news?” He was also physically pushed when he asked for his passport.
The family has sought assistance from the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, the State Department, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (D-CT), and Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) without any results. The U.S. Embassy has advised the family to hire a lawyer but has provided no other assistance. As a result, they have now turned to CAIR-CT to help redouble their efforts to bring Intifada and Musa home.
“My wife and son are U.S. citizens who should have every right to come home, yet they’ve been stranded for weeks simply because they are Palestinian,” said Mahar Abdelghani, the husband and father. “School has already started, and my 14-year-old should be back in Connecticut with his classmates — not stuck in the West Bank being threatened and frightened. It is heartbreaking to know my wife is being humiliated with repeated invasive searches while my son is missing the beginning of his school year. I am asking our government to act now to bring them home.”
The family is requesting:
- Immediate U.S. government action to secure the return of Intifada and Musa Abdelghani.
- An inquiry into whether U.S. citizens of Palestinian heritage are being treated differently under current travel protocols.
- A reaffirmation that protected political speech in the U.S. should not subject American families to punitive measures overseas.
Israel was admitted into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program in 2023 on the condition that it provide reciprocal treatment to all American citizens, including Palestinian- and Arab-Americans. The program requires that U.S. citizens be able to enter and depart Israel on equal terms, regardless of national origin or heritage. Any practice of denying departure to Americans of Palestinian origin would represent a breach of those commitments.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: Farhan Memon, Chairman, CAIR-CT, 203-517-6526, fmemon@cair.com