A Jewish legal group is appealing to the New York Supreme Court to prevent CUNY student Fatima Mousa Mohammed from becoming a lawyer after her “hate-filled,” anti-Israel opening speech, which they say proves she lacks character and aptitude to exercise the law.
Mohammed graduated from CUNY Law in May and used her now-infamous speech to label the NYPD as “fascist” and denounce “Israeli settler colonialism.”
After a barrage of public outcry and calls for the largely taxpayer-funded school to be stripped of its handouts, CUNY apologized for her comments, labeling them “hate speech.”
The Lawfare Project — which provides pro-bono legal services to benefit Jewish and pro-Israel people and charities — says the apology doesn’t go far enough. In a series of letters obtained by DailyMail.com, they appeal to the New York Supreme Court to prevent Mohammed from becoming a lawyer.
To become a lawyer, graduates must not only pass the notoriously difficult bar exam, but also certain “character and aptitude requirements.” In the eyes of The Lawfare Project, Mohammed is ineligible.
Scroll down for video
Fatima Mousa Mohammed, 24, graduated from CUNY Law last month. Now a legal group is asking the New York State Bar Association to stop her from becoming a lawyer on the basis of her “hate-filled” anti-Israel speech
The New York State Bar Association, which will soon begin admitting — or denying — law school graduates
“It is our belief that a person who has proven himself to be bigoted is not fit to practice the law.
“You have to wonder if it had been another minority-protected group, would this even be a question,” said Benjamin Ryberg, COO of The Lawfare Project.
In letters to the Bar Association, including the Character and Fitness Committee, Ryberg and the group’s founder, Brooke Goldstein, disputed: “Ms. Mohammed has a history of publicly expressing prejudiced and discriminatory views, particularly demonstrating deep hostility towards the Jewish community.
“These views are fundamentally inconsistent with the ethical obligations and principles of the legal profession and leave no doubt that Ms Mohammed lacks the character and aptitude to practice law.
“It is essential to recognize the potential harm that an individual with such discriminatory beliefs can cause to the legal community and the clients we serve.
‘Lawyers should be trusted to represent their clients without prejudice or bias, and to ensure fair and equitable results.
In letters obtained by DailyMail.com, the group asked The New York Bar Association not to admit Mohammed because she does not meet the character and fitness requirements
“Allowing Ms. Mohammed to practice law in New York State would jeopardize the impartiality and integrity of our legal system and violate the trust of those seeking legal assistance.”
At the age of 24, Mohammed moved to the US from Yemen as a child.
She spoke at her graduation ceremony about her relatives staying there, and her pride in the idea that she will soon be able to fight for cases she believes in as a lawyer.
She hasn’t spoken publicly since the uproar over her opening speech.
Ryberg says the group isn’t out for blood.
It would take more than just an apology if she could acknowledge that her statements are anti-Jewish and discriminatory and agree to stop spreading this awful rhetoric then there is the potential for redemption.
Mohammed is shown at an earlier, pro-Palestinian rally where she railed against ‘Zionist students’
“We are asking the committees to take a very serious look at her record and evaluate whether they can justify a decision that she maintains. their standards.’
The group says it is concerned that it would carry an anti-Zionist or anti-Jewish bias if allowed to practice.
‘I have no idea how she would treat those people, but given her proven anti-Jewish bias, it’s a door we don’t want to open.
“Whether she refuses to represent Jewish clients, or mistreats Jewish litigants on the other side, of course, I don’t know.
“But it is your sworn duty to protect the legal rights of your clients and enforce the law in general. New York City and New York State have some laws that specifically prohibit discrimination, so the idea that someone would be a lawyer with these beliefs is baffling,” he said.
Neither CUNY nor the New York Bar Association has so far responded to the letters sent Tuesday afternoon.
In its disapproval of her speech, the CUNY board said, “Freedom of expression is precious, but often messy, and is vital to the foundations of higher education.
“However, hate speech should not be confused with freedom of speech and has no place on our campuses or in our city, state or country.
“The comments made by a student-selected speaker at the CUNY Law School graduation unfortunately fall into the category of hate speech, as they were a public expression of hatred against people and communities based on their religion, race or political beliefs.
“The City University of New York Board of Trustees condemns such hate speech.”