A coalition of Muslim bar associations has accused leading law firms of contributing to Islamophobia and a climate of fear in the legal profession.
In a letter to more than 100 of America’s top law firms, 13 national and regional bar associations called on the firms to address Islamophobia and anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian hatred.
“Palestinian, Arab, Muslim and other legal professionals, including many lawyers of colour and Jewish lawyers, are afraid to openly express sympathy for the plight of Palestinians for fear of retaliation,” the letter said. “Many lawyers of Palestinian or Arab descent, or who identify as Muslim, are even afraid to disclose their heritage or religious affiliation to their colleagues.”
Members of the Muslim bar associations said they were “dismayed” that there was only a “brief reference” to Islamophobia in the recent letter sent by leading law firms warning elite universities to tackle anti-Semitism on campus or face consequences for the schools and their students. The letter, dated 1 November, said there was “no place for anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racism or any other form of violence, hatred or bigotry on your campuses, in our workplaces or in our communities”.
The companies said they were concerned about: “reports of anti-Semitism on campus, including rallies calling for the death of Jews and the elimination of the State of Israel.
The competing letters from law firms and Muslim bar associations underline the complex situation facing employers as tensions and emotions remain high following last month’s Hamas terrorist attack on Israel and as the Hamas-Israel war continues.
The new letter, sent on Monday, was sent to leading law firms including Davis Polk; Dechert; Kirkland & Ellis; Paul, Weiss; and Sullivan & Cromwell. Dechert declined CNN’s request for comment.
It notes that while some law firms issued statements of support for Israel after the October 7 attacks, in the weeks since, some firms have “refused to even acknowledge the killing of thousands of innocent Palestinians,” even though employees have loved ones killed in Gaza.
The letter, signed by the American Muslim Bar Association, the National Association of Muslim Lawyers and other groups, added that some law firms had raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of Israel, but not for humanitarian aid for innocent Palestinians.
The Muslim bar associations took issue with the November 1 letter to law school deans, which focused primarily on anti-Semitism, arguing that it contributed to an “environment of chilling speech advocating Palestinian human rights”.
“Taken together, the message being sent is that Israeli and Jewish lives matter,” the letter said, “but Palestinian, Arab and Muslim lives do not.”
The Muslim bar associations called on law firms to take a number of steps, including issuing a new letter to law school deans addressing Islamophobia, acknowledging the “equal humanity” of Palestinians and Israelis, “equally condemning the killing of all civilians,” launching educational programmes on Islamophobia, and engaging in pro bono opportunities aimed at combating Islamophobia.
The 1 November letter was spearheaded by Sullivan & Cromwell senior chair Joe Shenker.
A representative for the New York-based firm did not respond to a request for comment.
“Everyone in our law firms has the right to be treated with respect and to be free from conduct that targets their identity and is offensive, hostile, intimidating or inconsistent with their personal dignity and rights,” the letter said.