GOP Hints Burr Ridge Democrat Antisemitic
BURR RIDGE, IL – Republicans have denied involvement in a survey that was believed to have included an Islamophobic statement about a state representative candidate from Burr Ridge.
But the House Republican Organization hinted that Democrat Suzanne Akhras appears fine with terrorism.
In the Nov. 5 election, Akhras faces Republican state Rep. Nicole La Ha of Homer Glen in District 82, which includes parts of Burr Ridge, Darien, Lemont and Orland Park, among other towns.
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Last week, Akhras told Patch in an interview that she received multiple reports while knocking on doors about a survey telling residents she belongs to Islamic terrorist groups.
Akhras, who is Muslim, said one of the questions asks, “Would you vote for Suzanne Akhras if you knew she belonged to Islamic terrorist groups?”
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In a later statement, the House Republican Organization said its team had no involvement in the poll that Akhras described. At the same time, the group did not condemn such a survey.
The group said reporters and residents have asked about Akhras’ “extremist ties.” It said that “in the spirit of transparency,” it was providing a “fact sheet.”
The organization noted Akhras’ role as a board member for the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR.
It pointed out a statement by the council’s executive director, Nihad Awad, after Hamas’ terrorist attacks in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
“Yes, I was happy to see the people breaking the siege and throwing down the shackles of their own land and walk free into their own land that they were not allowed to walk in,” Awad said in a speech
The House Republican Organization said it knew of no public statement by Akhras denouncing these comments.
The group cited a New York Times story in which Joe Biden’s White House disavowed CAIR over Awad’s statement.
In the Times story, Awad said that in the same speech, he denounced hate against Jews and called antisemitism “a real evil” that “has to be rejected and combated by all people.” He said that part of his comments were not included in the video that circulated online.
The House Republican Organization also cited the Holy Land Foundation terrorism financing case from 2008, in which CAIR was listed as an unindicted co-conspirator. Holy Land was found to have supported Hamas financially.
In a 2011 piece, the Washington Post said nearly 250 other organizations and individuals were also named as unindicted co-conspirators. Federal courts later determined it had been a mistake to release the information to the public, the newspaper said.
CAIR wanted its name removed from the list, but a federal judge denied the request. He said the federal government produced enough evidence to show CAIR had links to Holy Land, the Post reported.
In its “fact sheet,” the House Republican Organization said Akhras failed to speak out against the violence.
“Despite the widespread condemnation of Hamas’s violent actions on October 7th, Akhras has remained silent, not publicly denouncing Hamas or their attacks on Israel,” the group said.
Akhras’ campaign did not return a message for comment in response to the Republicans’ criticism.
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