Independent Investigator Looking Into Sexual Harassment Claims Against Arab-American Civil Rights Leader
An independent investigator hired by the national office of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) has interviewed a number of women over the past three months who say they were sexually harassed by the group’s senior national adviser and Michigan director, according to attorneys and others involved with the investigation.
Imad Hamad, an Arab-American civil rights leader based in Dearborn, has been accused of sexually harassing women over the past 15 years. Hamad headed the biggest chapter of ADC, the largest civil rights group for Arab Americans.
The investigator — an attorney based in metro Detroit — has interviewed Hamad and several women who have accused him of harassing them in the workplace. It’s not clear how many women are making allegations against him, and none of those interviewed by the Free Press provided specifics of the investigation.
“They’re interviewing everybody, including Imad,” said Hamad’s attorney, Shereef Akeel. “He’s been fully cooperative. … The process is taking its course.”
Hamad, 52, was placed on leave in June after the Free Press first reported on the sexual harassment allegations, which included a letter sent to the national office of ADC by state Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit. Tlaib said Hamad harassed her years ago and said women had complained to the national office about Hamad in 2007, but their complaints were not addressed properly.
Tlaib did not comment on the ongoing investigation but said she hopes Hamad is not allowed to come back to work.
“I would be outraged and shocked if Imad Hamad would be able to return to ADC based on the number of women who have come forward during this independent investigation,” Tlaib told the Free Press. “He has hurt too many women.”
The national office of the ADC selected the attorney for the investigation but would not identify her, nor would Akeel and Tlaib.
“In the best interest of the neutrality and independence of the investigation, ADC will not comment until the investigation is concluded,” said Nabil Mohamad, vice president of the national office of ADC based in Washington, D.C.
Hamad has attended community events this summer in the local Arab-American community, including at the Islamic House of Wisdom in Dearborn Heights and the Islamic Institute of Knowledge in Dearborn. But he is not currently working for ADC, said ADC officials.
Hamad did not comment on the ongoing investigation, but his attorney said he’s “respecting the process.”
“Let the results of the investigation determine the future course of action,” Akeel said. “Any allegation is being taken seriously.”
In June, Tlaib and Rana Abbas, ADC’s former deputy director under Hamad, told the Free Press that Hamad’s harassment consisted of aggressive groping, stroking of hair, rubbing his body against women, trying to kiss them, commenting in suggestive ways on women’s body parts, paddling women, pushing women against walls and pressuring women to sleep with him. At least 15 women were harassed, they said.
Tlaib and Abbas are among the women who have been interviewed by the independent investigator.
Akeel said the allegations have been hard on Hamad.
“This whole process has taken a heavy toll on Imad,” Akeel said. “It’s tough for him not to be able to service the community like he’s been doing for many years. … It’s been emotionally tough on him.”
Meanwhile, the Michigan office of the ADC is trying to continue its work, sending out occasional e-mail updates. Doris Hage, ADC’s temporary program and finance administrator in its Dearborn office from January to August, said that ADC is still open to assist people on civil rights and Arab-American issues.
In Hamad’s absence, the office is now being run by a group of volunteers, said Shereen Newash, who helps out at the office.
Niraj Warikoo
Detroit Free Press