State Department diplomat worked on project claiming Hezbollah’s goal is to ‘achieve social justice’

A US State Department diplomat once participated in a project highlighting influential figures in the Middle East, which included descriptions of some designated terrorists as individuals seeking to achieve “social justice”.

Usra Ghazi is a Foreign Service officer, who first served in the department during the Obama administration in 2015, before leaving briefly in 2018. She returned in 2019 as a diplomat.

The Department of State’s security clearance process for this role is rigorous; Fox News Digital asked the State Department how Ghazi’s process went. “For confidentiality reasons, the department cannot provide any information regarding the security clearance of any current or former employee,” they said in a statement, which also confirmed that she was a current employee.

From 2009 to 2010, Ghazi edited and prepared two of the first editions of a textbook titled “The 500 Most Influential Muslims.” The text harshly criticizes attempts to reform traditional Islam, calling modernism “an object of derision and ridicule (which) is despised by traditional Muslims and fundamentalists alike.”

STATE DEPARTMENT MANDATES SUPPORT OF DEI IDEOLOGY AS A PRECONDITION FOR PROMOTIONS: “YOU ARE JUDGED”

Usra Ghazi is currently a diplomat at the State Department.

Ghazi worked on the textbook while studying abroad in Amman, Jordan, at the “Royal Center for Islamic Strategic Studies” from 2009 to 2010, according to her LinkedIn.

Ghazi traveled abroad as a participant in an international exchange program sponsored by the Clinton Global Initaitive and the office of Queen Rania of Jordan.

Academic works sometimes use soft language toward America-hating terrorists, such as the leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas.

HEZBOLLAH

The publication Ghazi worked on described the Hezbollah terrorist group as a “social justice” movement and an “international symbol of resistance against Israel,” according to the publication.

“Hezbollah is a Shiite Islamic political party and paramilitary organization based in Lebanon. Hezbollah’s ideology is based on the pursuit of social justice through Islamic ideals,” said the publication highlighting Hassan’s influence Nasrallah.

Nasrallah, the longtime leader of Hezbollah, was killed last week in an Israeli airstrike.

IDF profile photo showing Hezbollah terrorist leader Hassan Nasrallah, who the IDF said was killed in a strike Friday. (IDF Spokesperson’s Unit)

“Political and military successes have made Nasrallah an extremely influential figure in Lebanon and the Middle East more broadly. Nasrallah and Hezbollah are also controversial; the United States and Canada classify Hezbollah as a terrorist organization,” the statement continued. description.

He then touted Hezbollah’s social justice mission.

“Israel remains a key issue for the Muslim world and Hezbollah’s goal of achieving social justice there is at the heart of its activities,” the text said.

“Hezbollah has also gained significant popular support by cultivating a social welfare system that provides schools, clinics and housing in predominantly Shiite areas of Lebanon, as well as others. These social activities are efficiently managed and compete with those carried out by the state, giving the organization an even wider appeal,” he continues.

The State Department said its position on Hezbollah was “pretty clear” and referred Fox News Digital to Monday’s State Department briefing, where spokesperson Matt Miller condemned the group as a terrorist organization and underlined Israel’s right to defend itself.

PENTAGON EQUITY CHIEF LEADS BOOK Calling 9/11 First Responders ‘THREATS’ AS SHE PUSHES FOR ‘REVOLUTION’

HAMAS

The 2009 edition of the “500 Most Influential Muslims” spotlighted Khaled Mashaal, describing him as one of Hamas’ most prominent leaders, a “fighter for social justice” and a “pioneer.” The blurb mentions, like the one mentioned above, that the United States considers Hamas a terrorist organization.

“Since becoming Hamas leader, Mashaal has guided the organization through multiple attempts to develop a road map towards peace and a major Israeli siege of the Gaza Strip,” it reads. .

“Mashaal was recognized for his perseverance in the efforts of Hamas, currently leading the exile from Syria. His determination is combined with a unique diplomatic effort,” he said. “Mashaal has been one of the most direct and outspoken leaders in dialogue and confrontation with Israel, earning him international recognition.”

Usra Ghazi is a diplomat at the US Department of State. (Fox News Digital)

INDIVISIBLE AFFILIATION WITH AMERICA

In addition to working at the State Department, Ghazi is currently involved in “America Indivisible” as a senior advisor, according to her LinkedIn. She was previously its director from 2018 to 2019. America Indivisible is currently promoting its publication from 2020 on its site, recommending reading “credible sources” like “MuslimGirl” in order to combat religious intolerance.

MuslimGirl’s goal is to raise awareness The message of the Quran of gender equality and the principle of peace of Islam,” according to the website’s description.

Fox News Digital’s previous review of MuslimGirl found that it was filled with articles containing pro-Palestinian propaganda from 2016 to the present.

NEW STATE DEPARTMENT DIVERSITY CHIEF BELIEVES WE ARE A “FAILED HISTORICAL MODEL” WITH A “COLONIZING PAST”

For example, a week after the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, MuslimGirl published an article that said: “Was it plausible to believe that (the Palestinians) would remain passive forever?

The article also questioned whether Hamas’ association with terrorism was political.

“The term ‘terrorist’… deserves careful consideration,” the article said. “How… can this label be applied to those who defend their homeland…”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

“MuslimGirl Staff” published an article in May 2021 that claimed evangelical Christians posed a “threat,” while also claiming evangelicals were more dangerous to Jews than Palestinians.

Fox News Digital contacted the State Department for comment in March, asking about Ghazi’s affiliation with America Indivisible, particularly given his endorsement of MuslimGirl. In the months since, Ghazi has not changed his public affiliation with America Indivisible.