Ex-Democratic Senator Joins Forces with Prominent Muslim Activist Group as Legal Advocate

By Staff Reporter |

Martín Quezada, a former Democratic representative for Arizona’s 29th legislative district, has taken on a new role as the legal counsel for the Council on American-Islamic Relations of Arizona (CAIR-AZ). This announcement came during CAIR-AZ’s annual banquet over the weekend.

Quezada’s appointment follows a series of setbacks in his political career, including his unsuccessful bid for state treasurer in 2022 against Kimberly Yee and his failure to secure a nomination from Governor Katie Hobbs for the State Registrar of Contractors position.

With a history of advocating for Muslim causes, Quezada has been known for his controversial stances. Notably, in 2016, he was opposed to Arizona’s legislation that banned state-level boycotts against Israel. In a 2021 address to CAIR-AZ, he referred to the Israeli government as a “Zionist state” and condemned U.S. military aid to Israel, which he claimed supported acts of terrorism against Palestinians. “What we are witnessing is oppression and occupation in action,” he stated emphatically.

His political ambitions suffered further setbacks; last year, Quezada was not confirmed as the director of Arizona’s Registrar of Contractors. This was largely attributed to his vocal support for the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. In preparation for his confirmation, he deleted multiple posts from his social media accounts that criticized Israel, including one urging support for Palestinian liberation.

Despite these efforts, he has resumed his criticism of Israel, recently sharing a post that suggested certain forms of violence were acceptable depending on the perpetrator. In 2022, he also screened a documentary titled “Boycott,” which discussed states’ initiatives against BDS laws.

During his campaign for state treasurer, Quezada rejected allegations of antisemitism, firmly stating, “I am not antisemitic, hard stop.” His defense highlighted tensions surrounding discussions of Israel and Palestine within political circles.

CAIR-AZ, under the leadership of executive director Azza Abuseif, focuses on providing legal services to those facing discrimination due to their Muslim identity and advocates for broader acceptance of Islam in the U.S. Abuseif, a Sudanese refugee, has a track record of activism and community engagement, including roles within NextGen America and the Women’s March in Phoenix.

The organization also keeps a list of individuals and groups it deems Islamophobic, which includes prominent figures and businesses. Nationally, CAIR is often critiqued for its associations; some commentators have linked it to the Muslim Brotherhood and other controversial organizations.