'Insufficient Evidence' in ADC-Michigan Investigation
An independent investigation has found “insufficient evidence” to prove a Dearborn-based senior leader at the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) sexually harassed multiple women over several years, the group said today.
Imad Hamad will no longer lead the ADC’s Michigan office as its regional director and serve as a senior national adviser, but he will remain with ADC as an adviser to the Michigan office in Dearborn.
The national office of ADC, the biggest Arab-American civil rights group in the U.S., said the investigation, “performed by an independent third party led by an experienced Michigan attorney has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to make a conclusive determination supporting allegations of harassment since 2007.”
Hamad’s attorney, Shereef Akeel, told the Free Press that Hamad wants to move forward.
“We’re obviously relieved the investigation has concluded,” Akeel said. “This has been a painful chapter for Imad and his family, and it’s taken a personal toll on him.”
State Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, and ADC’s former deputy director Rana Abbas — who both said they were repeatedly sexually harassed by Hamad — blasted ADC’s leadership for the decision. Meanwhile, another woman who says she was harassed by Hamad came forward today, saying he sexually attacked her in 2007.
Hamad, 52, was placed on leave in June after the Free Press reported the sexual harassment allegations, which included a letter sent to the national office of ADC by Tlaib. 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 properly addressed.
Tlaib and Abbas contend Hamad harassed at least 15 women. They said the ADC’s decision shows the organization doesn’t take seriously the issue of sexual harassment and treating women fairly.
“Shame on them,” Tlaib told the Free Press. “The leading Arab-American civil rights group just gave a green light to sexual predators all across the community that this is OK. … The right thing was not done today. Not at all.”
Tlaib and Abbas said they’re worried women in Arab-American and Muslim communities will now be reluctant to come forward to talk about sexual harassment because of the way the case was handled.
“ADC has totally disregarded the victims who came forward to speak to the independent investigator,” said Abbas, who also questioned why Hamad was removed as regional director and senior national adviser if the evidence was insufficient.
Abbas called upon the ADC to release the investigator’s report to the public.
Abed Ayoub, a Dearborn native and national legal and policy director of ADC, said the ADC “takes allegations of sexual harassment very seriously.” Ayoub said the national board of ADC unanimously approved today’s decision.
Ayoub, who will now be in charge of the Michigan office as interim director, said he hopes that the ADC can “move in a new direction.” He said Hamad will be an adviser.
“Imad is serving in an advisory role,” Ayoub told the Free Press. Asked whether Hamad will continue being paid by ADC, Ayoub said: “We can’t speak to that.”
Warren David, a Northville native who is ADC’s national president, did not return a call tonight seeking comment.
The independent investigation was done by Southfield attorney Teri Gorman, who interviewed seven women and Hamad, according to several people involved with the investigation.
Faye Moslimani of Wixom said she was one of the women interviewed by Gorman’s office. Moslimani, who spoke to the Free Press today, said she went to the ADC office in 2007 to complain about workplace discrimination because of her Arab ancestry. But instead of getting help, she said, Hamad sexually assaulted her in the hallway near his office in Dearborn.
“This man grabs my neck in a headlock and puts his mouth on my mouth,” Moslimani said. “I immediately shoved him into the wall … and I said, ‘Who do you think you are?’ And I ran to the elevator.”
Suehaila Amen of Dearborn, a former Detroit chapter advisory board member of ADC who sometimes worked with Hamad, said she was disappointed in the ADC’s decision.
“They knew what was happening and completely aware of what was going on in the Michigan office,” she said. “I expected more from ADC national in this investigation.”
Niraj Warikoo
Detroit Free Press