(COLUMBUS, OHIO, 7/26/2019) The Columbus chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations announced today the filing of a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) on behalf of a Muslim family.
The family was a victim of numerous incidents of discrimination, intimidation, and harassment perpetrated by their neighbor.
One of the most problematic incidents occurred when the neighbor filed a police report in which she called the family “terrorists” and accused the father of using “a jamming device to destroy her [surveillance] camera.” However, the family was unaware of the existence or locations of such cameras. The neighbor’s intimidation did not stop there. She launched xenophobic slurs at the family, such as, “I hope Trump wins again so he can send [you] people back to [your] home.”
After suffering continuous harassment and intimidation, the family sought assistance from CAIR-Columbus to file a complaint with the FHEO against their neighbor.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim Civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. The CAIR-Ohio Affiliate has three chapters – Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati.