Dear Reverend Olivetti:

As Sharon residents, we are writing to ask you to cancel the Unitarian Church’s upcoming speaker, Dr. Aziz Rahman, on Saturday, August 23, 2025. Dr. Rahman’s interviews and quotes in previous media sources such as NBC News and The Washington Post make it clear that he presents a distorted and biased view of the situation in Gaza. This will greatly inflame Antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment causing severe pain to the Sharon Jewish community and others who stand with Israel.

Dr. Rahman mentions the lack of infant formula and food for Gazans from his experience in a hospital in Gaza. However, he never mentions the fact that Israel has sent hundreds of millions of tons of food to Gaza which is being withheld from residents by Hamas.

As a physician, Dr. Rahman made a promise to uphold ethical principles in the practice of medicine. However, he has never spoken up about any of the following:

-        The murder of the Israeli infant and toddler, Ariel and Kfir Bibas and their mother, Shiri by Hamas

-        The fact that the International Red Cross has not been given access to treat Israeli hostages or provide medication to them;

-        Protesting injured Israeli hostages who were operated on in Gaza hospitals without anesthesia or left to die;

-        Calling for the release of the Israeli hostages who have been held in brutal, violent conditions for 684 days;

-        Demanding that Hamas not store and fire weapons at Israel civilian populations from within Gazan hospitals.

The Unitarian Church has prominently displayed signs indicating that “Black Lives Matter” and supporting the LGBTQ+ community. What we haven’t seen is the church speaking out against the murder, rape, kidnapping and torture of Israeli civilians on October 7, and the continued violation of human rights for those Israeli’s still held hostage. We haven’t seen a “Bring Them Home” sign.

Social justice cannot exist if it is biased and one-sided. Canceling Dr. Rahman’s presentation will go a long way in showing the Sharon community that the church cares about the deep pain such a presentation will cause the Jewish community, and that it truly wishes to foster community and peace.

Thank you for your consideration.