AMMWEC Unites Faith Leaders Against Antisemitism and Hate in Washington
AMMWEC Convenes Second Annual National Coalition Against Antisemitism and Hate Conference in Washington, D.C.
Members of Congress, senior Justice Department officials, and interfaith leaders gathered for a two-day conference marked by the launch of a new book of Muslim eyewitness testimony from Israel.
The American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council (AMMWEC) convened its Second Annual National Coalition Against Antisemitism and Hate Conference in Washington, D.C., drawing praise from members of Congress, senior U.S. Department of Justice officials, civil rights experts, and interfaith leaders. More than 70 national and international organizations took part, joining forces to strengthen cooperation against antisemitism, extremism, and religious hatred.
A centerpiece of the gathering was the launch of “O’ Jerusalem: The Witness Delegations—Truth, Faith & Oct. 7,” a new book published by the Abrahamic Publishing & Research Center. The volume collects firsthand testimony from Muslim journalists, educators, faith leaders, and interfaith advocates who traveled across Israel both before and after the October 7 attacks, presenting their experiences as personal reflection rather than political commentary.
Video: Highlights from AMMWEC’s National Coalition Against Hate Conference, Washington, D.C.
AMMWEC Board Member Seemab Asif served as Mistress of Ceremonies. The day opened with an Abrahamic Prayer for Peace led by Muslim, Jewish, and Christian clergy, followed by a cake-cutting ceremony marking America’s approaching 250th anniversary.
Leo Terrell, Chair of the U.S. Department of Justice Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, delivered the keynote address, commending AMMWEC’s leadership and framing the fight against antisemitism as a moral rather than political obligation.
The program also included remarks from U.S. Representatives Greg Stanton and Brad Schneider, a featured conversation between AMMWEC Founder Dr. Anila Ali and bestselling author Dara Horn, and presentations from the Anti-Defamation League and Dr. Charles Asher Small of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy. Additional sessions addressed campus antisemitism, the role of Muslim women in peacemaking, digital extremism, and international religious freedom.
By the Numbers
- 70+ national and international organizations represented
- 2 days of programming in Washington, D.C.
- 2nd annual National Coalition Against Antisemitism and Hate Conference
- 1 new book launched: “O’ Jerusalem: The Witness Delegations”
One of the day’s most anticipated sessions brought together Muslim delegates whose testimonies appear in “O’ Jerusalem.” Moderated by journalist Wajid Ali Syed, the panel shared firsthand accounts of visiting Israel, the Gaza envelope, the West Bank, Bethlehem, and communities affected by the October 7 attacks.
Closing the conference, Dr. Anila Ali called on participants to continue building interfaith partnerships, framing the safety of Jewish communities as inseparable from the safety of all houses of worship.
The conference reaffirmed AMMWEC’s commitment to strengthening Muslim-Jewish partnerships, defending religious freedom, and building lasting coalitions against antisemitism and hate.