Rotary allows ex-mayor accused of posting vile anti-Jewish hatred to keep top job

Rotary International is under fire for allowing former Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan to serve as president of the service organization’s Orange County branch — despite allegedly calling Israeli officials “pedophiles” and “cannibals.”

Khan was given the top job in May despite warnings from local Jewish groups and community leaders calling attention to the vile antisemitic words.

The Jewish Community Action Network, Jewish Federation of Orange County and Israeli-American Council have now written to Rotary saying she’s violated the group’s ethical standards with the inflammatory posts.

“We respectfully ask that, prior to installing Ms. Khan as President, Rotary District 5320 conduct a formal review of whether Ms. Khan’s conduct aligns with the Rotarian Code of Conduct and the Four-Way Test,” the groups wrote.

The organizations alleged Khan’s posts echoed antisemitic blood libels, which the letter described as “false, incendiary charges against Jews” that have fueled violence for centuries.

The groups said Khan made the accusations while sharing an Al Jazeera article alleging Israel bombed a girls’ school in Iran. They also pointed to another post in which Khan claimed “handcuffed babies were found in a mass grave” and blamed Israel for the alleged atrocity.

The letter also alleges that while serving as Irvine mayor, Khan failed to stop harassment and intimidation of Jewish residents during contentious City Hall meetings over Israel.

Khan has claimed she referring to Israeli government officials and the military, not the Israeli public, in the posts.

But Jewish Community Action Network executive director Rabbi Samuel Heiman rejected the explanation saying it’s “proxy for saying Jew.”

“Most of our community supports Israel. If the public is reading that Israelis are cannibals and pedophiles, then they see Jewish people here supporting Israel, the implication is that Jews must be evil too.”

Rotary Rotary International Director Wyn Spiller told The Post that “Rotary is a non-political and non-religious global member network.  

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“At the same time, each Rotary club acts as an independent member unit managed by its own elected board of directors.  

“When concerns arise about a member’s political activities outside of Rotary, we, at Rotary International, provide guidance to clubs based on Rotary’s values and governing documents.

“However, decisions regarding club leadership remain the responsibility of each club, in accordance with its bylaws, constitutional documents, and Rotary’s governing documents.

Sam Yebri, a Los Angeles employment attorney whose Jewish family fled Iran during the Islamic Revolution, blasted Rotary’s decision.

“The Rotary Club of Orange County LA has disgraced itself,” Yebri told The California Post.

“By elevating someone with a long record of promoting virulent antisemitism, the Rotary Club has betrayed every Jewish Rotarian, normalized the dehumanization of Jews and sent the message that antisemitism is compatible with community leadership.”

Community leader Dori Benami, a Tarzana attorney who ran for Congress in 2024, said the controversy caused him to reconsider joining the organization.

“I met a lot of great people during my campaign. Rotary was amazing. But this has given me a lot of pause. Until Rotary actually addresses this, I don’t think I’m going to proceed (with joining).”

Rotary International is one of the world’s largest service organizations, with more than 1.2 million members worldwide. Its ethical code, known as the Four-Way Test, asks members whether their actions are truthful, fair, promote goodwill and benefit everyone involved.

Benami said Rotary’s decision threatens the organization’s longstanding reputation for integrity and public service.

“When you look at places like Rotary, you want to see people who are pillars of the community,” Benami said.

“Obviously, she has that pedigree as a former mayor. But it’s unfortunate that her views are now much more clear, and they’re dangerous.”

He said organizations with trusted public reputations have a responsibility to carefully vet the people they elevate into leadership.

“I think a lot of people have the impression that if she’s part of Rotary, she must be legitimate,” Benami said. “That’s also concerning.”

Benami said civic organizations should hold their leaders to the same standards they expect of their members.

“Anybody who calls a group of people cannibals and pedophiles and continues to share stories like that is not somebody I want in any leadership role,” he said. “We have to confront that head-on.”

The controversy comes as antisemitic incidents continue to climb nationwide.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, 9,354 antisemitic incidents were reported across the United States in 2024, the highest annual total since the organization began tracking the data nearly 50 years ago and a 344% increase over the past five years.

In Los Angeles County, anti-Jewish hate crimes accounted for 80% of all religion-based hate crimes last year. 

Nationally, one in three American Jews reported personally experiencing antisemitism during the past year, according to the ADL.

Benami said those trends make Rotary’s decision especially troubling.

“When someone says things that make Jewish people feel unsafe, we’re going to push back,” he said. “Not violently, but we will challenge a system that is blind to our suffering and our vulnerability.”

The California Post contacted Rotary International, the Rotary Club of Orange County LA and Khan for comment.