Hamas flag raises concern in San Carlos

“It says ‘No one is god except Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.’ That’s it. That’s what I believe,” Rashid said.

The flag is flown above a Palestinian flag with overlaid text that reads “Palestinian Lives Matter” and a keffiyeh, a symbol of Palestinian resistance.

The Shahadah written on a green background — as displayed on Rashid’s flagpole — has been used by supporters of Hamas since the early 2000s. It is the flag of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. The United States designated Hamas as a foreign terrorist organization in 1997. The militant organization operates against Israel and is committed to the creation of a Palestinian state. It was also responsible for the terrorist attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, when 1,139 people were killed and 250 people taken hostage, which initiated the current Gaza war.

Neighbors of the property expressed concern to city officials and local law enforcement agencies, stating that waving a flag associated with a terrorist organization could be considered an endorsement and harmful act, reported J., The Jewish News of Northern California.

On March 12, San Mateo County residents protested outside the residence with signs that read “This house supports rape, kidnapping, and murder,” J. reported.

Rashid said he felt “terrorized” by the people who protested outside his home and that they left trash on the street, played loud music and called him a rapist and murderer. When Rashid walked outside to see the protests, he chose not to engage and prayed instead.

“I don’t know terrorists, I don’t know Hamas, I’m not supporting terrorist people,” Rashid said.

With the widely understood perception that the flag is associated with Hamas, the “only purpose for flying that flag is to incite a response of fear and terror in other people,” Jordan Shenker, CEO of the Peninsula Jewish Community Center, said.

That instillation of fear blurs the lines of protected First Amendment rights, Shenker said.

“It makes them feel unsafe, unwelcome, strangers in their own neighborhood,” Shenker said. “If you are inciting violence, if you are inciting danger, that is not protected speech.”

The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office was made aware of the flag, and “shared information with federal partners” including the Northern California Regional Intelligence Center,” Director of Communications Gretchen Spiker said in a statement. The matter was deferred to the local municipal government for regulation.

In response, the city of San Carlos investigated the matter, visiting Rashid’s residence to make sure the flagpole was in compliance with city regulations, City Attorney Greg Rubens said.

San Carlos has “very limited regulation” of flags on residential property, and as long as there is only one flagpole and it does not exceed the allowable height, residents are within their right to display any flag without content regulation.

As of Wednesday afternoon, city staff stated the flag was taken down — though Rashid raised it again as of Thursday evening, citing good weather.

“If I’m going to die and somebody comes and kills me, at least I’m going to die representing what I believe in, and it’s not Hamas,” Rashid said. “What matters is what it says.”