NOT THE SHARPEST KNIVES IN THE DRAWER: MA Town Rolls Out Welcome Mat For Gitmo Detainee, Then Rolls It Up Again
The “heavily Jewish” Boston suburb of Newton was in a tizzy when a subcommittee of the Board of Aldermen unanimously approved a resolution by Aldermen Stephen Linsky and Ted Hess-Mahan that called for the city to “welcome” Guantanamo detainee Abdul Aziz Naji to the city, reports The Jerusalem Post:
The resolution itself cites [the 34-year-old Algerian’s] local connections – he is represented pro bono by two Newton-based lawyers [Doris Tennant and Ellen Lubell] – in expressing a willingness to “welcome this cleared detainee into our community” as soon as Congress repealed the ban on settling released Guantanamo prisoners in the US, which the resolution also urged.
“Newton has historically welcomed refugees from a variety of countries and under many circumstances,” the resolution also stated.
“Newton’s history of supporting human rights makes it fitting that our community provide safe resettlement to a man who has been unjustly imprisoned by the US government at Guantanamo Bay.”
Stephen Linsky, one of the two cosponsors of the resolution, explained that to implement a repeal of the ban – something he supports – communities would have to accept detainees, and he wanted his support to be more than empty words.
“This isn’t about rewarding any individual. It’s about aiding US interests, and how we can help,” he said. “It means raising our hand to do our part.”
But when another alderman, Charlie Shapiro, heard about the resolution, he thought it was far from being in Newton’s interest, let alone the country’s.
“Under normal circumstances I would have been the first to welcome immigrants to the City of Newton, but I draw the line at anyone who is associated with terrorism in any way, shape or form,” said Shapiro.
At a meeting of the full board, the resolution to urge Congress to lift the ban on Gitmo detainees relocating to the U.S. was unanimously voted down and the resolution welcoming Naji to the city was designated “No Action Necessary,” effectively killing it.
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