WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Muslim Advocates issued a statement in support of Santa Clara Deputy Public Defender Sajid Khan, who was unfairly targeted by Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen for exercising his First Amendment right to free speech. After Khan wrote in his personal blog that prosecutors contribute to anti-Black law enforcement bias, Rosen retaliated by outrageously calling the posts a threat, threatening to file a whistleblower complaint and initiating a formal investigation against Khan. The following is a statement from Muslim Advocates:

“As an organization that fights in courtrooms to stop bigotry in its tracks, Muslim Advocates is proud to stand in solidarity with Sajid Khan. District Attorney Rosen is targeting a Muslim public defender for speaking out about anti-Black bias in the criminal justice system—all at a time when the violent reality of that same injustice is sparking nationwide protests.

Public protest is protected by the U.S. Constitution and the actions taken by District Attorney Rosen to threaten Khan for supporting protest are unacceptable. It is our hope that Sajid’s bold words help spark a desperately-needed conversation about the role prosecutors play in the dangerous criminalization of Black communities.”

Muslim Advocates is a national civil rights organization working in the courts, in the halls of power and in communities to halt bigotry in its tracks. We ensure that American Muslims have a seat at the table with expert representation so that all Americans may live free from hate and discrimination. 

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