A Muslim progressive activist who has allegedly been lying for years about her ethnic discover, claiming to be a lady of color, has resigned from her position as senior inclusion officer of a Philadelphia-based social justice group.
“Raquel Saraswati, who’s facing public allegations that she misrepresented her background and past associations, has informed us of her intention to separate from the organization,” American Friends Service Committee rep Layne Mullett told USA Today.
Saraswati, 39, who was born Rachel Elizabeth Seidel, was the chief equity, inclusion and culture officer of the Philadelphia-based, progressive Quaker group that fights “violence, inequality and oppression.”
She was recently outed by The Intercept for pretending to be of Latin, South Asian and Arab descent – and her mother, Carol Perone, told the outlet that the lady is definitely of British, German and Italian descent.
“I call her Rachel. I don’t know why she’s doing what she’s doing,” Perone said. “I’m as white because the driven snow and so is she.”
Mullett told USA Today in an email that AFSC supports Saraswati and described her decision to depart the outfit as “difficult” and “deeply personal.”
Saraswati, who appears to have deleted or locked most of her social media accounts, told the Each day Beast that she wanted “to take care of discretion” regarding her employment.
“I even have carried out my work at AFSC with integrity and sincere commitment, moving forward many elements of organizational culture,” she told the outlet.
“I can be handling this phase of my relationship with AFSC with the identical level of thoughtfulness and care as I did [other] vital matters,” Saraswati said.
“I’m currently taking the time I would like each with family members in addition to with skilled counsel to be certain that the doors are soon closed on this,” she added.
Last week, AFSC human resources official Oskar Pierre Castro, who helped hire Saraswati for her diversity leadership role, said he felt “conned” and deceived” by the revelations.
He believed she was a “queer, Muslim, multiethnic woman” because that’s what she said she was.
Some AFSC members expressed concerns that Saraswati can have been harboring a hidden political agenda and was working on behalf of groups that seek to undermine the group.
The activist has been referred to online as “the brand new Rachel Dolezal” — referring to the white woman who in 2015 was exposed as having lied about her race for years and have become president of the NAACP’s chapter in Spokane, Washington.
