Judith Chammas

Chammas warned M Morshed Khan, Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, that the 2005 Bangladesh bombings would harm the image of Bangladesh as a moderate Muslim country.{{Cite web |title=Blasts to harm Bangladesh's, image, says US diplomat |url=https://archive.thedailystar.net/2005/09/08/d5090801086.htm |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=The Daily Star}}{{Cite web |title=World wants strong probe, open trial |url=https://archive.thedailystar.net/2006/03/08/d6030801011.htm |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=The Daily Star}} Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Jamiruddin Sircar was critical of her comments on the terror attacks.{{Cite web |title=Chammas didn't label Bangladesh a failing state |url=https://archive.thedailystar.net/2005/09/16/d50916011612.htm |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=The Daily Star}} She was also critical of the 2004 Dhaka grenade attack which aimed to eliminate the leadership of Awami League and described it as a threat to democracy in Bangladesh.{{Cite web |title='Take tough stance against corrupt officials' |url=https://archive.thedailystar.net/2004/11/24/d41124060266.htm |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=The Daily Star}} She called for investigation into the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh and its alleged ties with politicians including those from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.{{Cite web |title=US envoy for probe into militant sponsors |url=https://archive.thedailystar.net/2006/03/15/d6031501107.htm |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=The Daily Star}}{{Cite web |title=US envoy for probe into militant sponsors |url=https://archive.thedailystar.net/2007/2006/03/15/d6031501107.htm |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=The Daily Star}}

At a meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh, Chammas stated that Bangladesh needed 7 to 9 % growth rate to improve the living standards of its people.{{Cite web |title=Dhaka needs 7-9pc GDP growth |url=https://archive.thedailystar.net/2005/09/14/d50914050248.htm |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=The Daily Star}} She offered American financial support for anti-terrorism operations in Bangladesh.{{Cite web |last=Byron |first=Rejaul Karim |date=9 March 2006 |title=Routing Terror Finance |url=https://archive.thedailystar.net/2006/03/09/d6030901011.htm |access-date=5 January 2025 |website=The Daily Star}} She visited Madinatul-Ulam Model Institute for Women operated by Rahmat-E-Islam Mission.{{Cite web |last=Department Of State. The Office of Electronic Information |first=Bureau of Public Affairs |title=Visit to Women's Madrassah in Bangladesh |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/ei/pix/b/sa/43382.htm |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=2001-2009.state.gov |language=en}} She told Bdnews24.com that the United States government does not discriminate between religious and secular parties.{{Cite web |last= |title=US does not distinguish between secular, religion-based politics: Chammas |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/us-does-not-distinguish-between-secular-religion-based-politics-chammas |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=Bdnews24.com |language=en}}

In March 2006, US Peace Corps suspended operations in Bangladesh over fears regarding terror attacks following the arrest of two Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh leaders which was praised by Chammas.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-05 |title=US Peace Corps suspends activities in Bangladesh |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/us-peace-corps-suspends-activities-in-bangladesh/DZF7IPIU6ZGDZXDLCWXNUZDYR4/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=NZ Herald |language=en-NZ}}{{Cite news |title=Bangla citadel found |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/world/bangla-citadel-found/cid/1597167 |access-date=5 January 2025 |work=The Telegraph India}} Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, principal secretary to Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, told Chmmas that the second in command of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh, Mahtab Khamaru, was released on the orders of Tarique Rahman, referred by Siddiqui as Wind Tunnel in reference to Hawa Bhaban.{{Cite web |title=US cable: Tarique phoned for JMB leader Khamaru’s release |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/politics/81483/us-cable-tarique-phoned-for-jmb-leader-khamaru%E2%80%99s |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=Dhaka Tribune |language=en}} She was instrumental in renaming American Center Library, U.S. Embassy Dhaka after Archer Blood.{{Cite book |url=https://www.google.ca/books/edition/Foreign_Service_Journal/x3SPAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22Judith+Chammas%22&dq=%22Judith+Chammas%22&printsec=frontcover |title=Foreign Service Journal: (1980) |date=2006 |publisher=American Foreign Service Association |pages=8 |language=en}}

Chammas represented the United States at the Human Rights Council of the United Nations in 2007.{{Cite web |title=HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL TAKES UP SITUATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN BELARUS AND CUBA |url=https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2009/10/human-rights-council-takes-situation-human-rights-belarus-and-cuba |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=OHCHR |language=en}} In August 2010, Chammas was appointed the deputy chief of mission in Morocco.{{Cite web |title=U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Appoints New Deputy Chief of Mission |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2016/09/195770/u-s-ambassador-morocco-appoints-new-deputy-chief-mission |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=www.moroccoworldnews.com |language=en}} She was the U.S. embassy charge d'affairs in 2011.{{Cite web |date=2011-02-22 |title=Vance IP returns to Morocco to attend T-6 acceptance ceremony |url=https://www.vance.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/370727/vance-ip-returns-to-morocco-to-attend-t-6-acceptance-ceremony/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=Vance Air Force Base |language=en-US}} In September 2016, Stephanie Miley replaced Chammas as the deputy chief of mission in Morocco.{{Cite web |title=U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Appoints New Deputy Chief of Mission |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2016/09/195770/u-s-ambassador-morocco-appoints-new-deputy-chief-mission |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=www.moroccoworldnews.com |language=en}}

Chammas is married to Labib Chammas.{{Cite web |date=2017-01-04 |title=Labib Chammas, husband of former Morocco embassy official Judith Chammas, gets 2 ½ years in sex case - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/former-morocco-embassy-husband-labib-chammas-gets-2-12-years-in-sex-case/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}} In 2017, Labib Chammas was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing a household staff member from 2010 to 2013 while Judith Chammas served as the deputy chief of mission in Morocco. The then-65-year-old also had to register as a sex offender for 15 years and pay a $15,000 fine as part of his sentence.{{Cite web |date=2017-01-04 |title=Diplomat’s Husband Sexually Abused Staff |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/us-diplomats-husband-sexually-abused-staff-until-an-anonymous-tip-stopped-him/ |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=The Daily Beast |language=en}} They were staying at a State Department owned house in Morocco.{{Cite web |date=2016-10-12 |title=Former embassy official's husband pleads guilty in sex case |url=https://apnews.com/general-news-59e4d168da0d4e3094c96329302a3532 |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=AP News |language=en}}

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Category:Living people

Category:United States Foreign Service personnel

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Category:21st-century American diplomats