- The American Jewish Committee (AJC) awarded Sheikh Abdullah Bin Bayyah, a Saudi-based Islamic scholar, with the Human Dignity Award for his role in promoting peace and interfaith alliances.
- Bin Bayyah’s acceptance of the award from a Zionist organization relations has sparked outrage within the Muslim community regarding normalization with Israel amidst the ongoing Palestinian issue.
The American Jewish Committee (AJC) bestowed its Human Dignity Award upon Sheikh Abdullah Bin Bayyah during a ceremony in New York City. Bin Bayyah, widely acclaimed for his expertise in Islamic jurisprudence, has led the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, serves as the president of the Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace, and chairs the Islamic Law Council of the United Arab Emirates.
The AJC, a Zionist organization, emphasizes that “calling for the elimination of the Jewish state, or suggesting that the Jews alone do not have the right to self-determination, is antisemitic.” According to the AJC, the award presentation included the translation of the Charter of the New Alliance of Virtue into Hebrew and its distribution to thousands of rabbis and other Jewish community leaders worldwide.
Some critics, like Atika, who is pursuing a master’s degree in Palestine Studies, argue that receiving awards from organizations like AJC conveys a problematic message. Atika believes that accepting an award from a known Zionist organization and promoting normalization with Israel is concerning given the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
