A black T-shirt bearing the phrase "We will not be silent" in both English and Arabic triggered an airport confrontation for Raed Jarrar in 2006. This incident at John F. Kennedy International Airport resulted in a lawsuit against JetBlue, which ultimately concluded in a 2009 settlement where the airline paid Jarrar $240,000 for the discriminatory refusal to allow him to board his flight.
Academic Foundation and Early Career
Born in Baghdad in 1953, Jarrar pursued formal education in architecture and engineering. He earned an architecture degree from the University of Baghdad, where he crossed paths with the student later known as the blogger Salam Pax. He subsequently completed a master's degree in Architectural Engineering at the University of Jordan, concentrating his studies on the specialized field of post-war reconstruction.
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Jarrar became a prominent voice during the 2003 invasion of Iraq through his contributions to the blog "Where is Raed?" which was maintained by Salam Pax. In 2008, he published his family's collective entries as "The Iraq War Blog," documenting the daily impact of missile strikes and military occupation. Following the fall of Baghdad, he served as country director for CIVIC Worldwide to survey civilian casualties and founded Emaar, a non-governmental organization focused on humanitarian relief and reconstruction efforts across Baghdad and southern Iraq.
Advocacy and Institutional Roles
Beyond his architectural and engineering background, Jarrar transitioned into full-time political advocacy. By 2017, he operated as the advocacy director for the Middle East and North Africa division at Amnesty International in the United States. During that same year, authorities denied him entry to Israel when he attempted to visit his father's hometown of Jenin to mourn his death. He continued his advocacy career in 2020 by accepting a position as director at DAWN.
Fast facts
- Born: 1953, Baghdad
- Education: University of Baghdad and University of Jordan
- Occupations: Writer, architect, engineer, peace activist
- JetBlue lawsuit settlement: $240,000 (2009)
- Published work: The Iraq War Blog (2008)
- Notable NGO roles: CIVIC Worldwide and Emaar
Questions readers ask
What was the basis of the JetBlue lawsuit?
The American Civil Liberties Union sued JetBlue for illegal discrimination after Jarrar was blocked from a 2006 flight for wearing a shirt with Arabic text.
What is Jarrar's professional background?
He is an architect and engineer who holds degrees from the University of Baghdad and the University of Jordan.
Achievements
- Trained at University of Baghdad and University of Jordan
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