Columbus City Council is continuing to fight against hate speech and discrimination.

On Monday, March 6, from 5-7pm at the Abubakar Assidiq Islamic Center, Columbus City Council held a roundtable discussion regarding the proliferation in hateful Islamophobic rhetoric and violence across the country.

A panel of interfaith leaders and representatives helped facilitate the conversation, including CAIR-Columbus Legal Director Romin Iqbal.  Mr. Iqbal also gave a report on the state of Islamophobia and status of other marginalized groups in America before the start of the panel discussion.

“Muslims, like members of all religious backgrounds, should be treated with dignity, care and compassion which every human being deserves,” said Councilmember Michael Stinziano. “I look forward to continuing conversation on how to achieve religious tolerance and acceptance within our community.”

In October 2016, Councilmembers took a stand against hate and adopted a resolution to condemn Islamophobia and all religious intolerance while declaring support for the Muslim community in the City of Columbus.

“With the rise in anti-Muslim, anti-Semitic, and anti-immigrant hate crimes, it is important that we continue these discussions on how to combat discrimination and bigotry,” said Romin Iqbal, Legal Director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)-Columbus.

Columbus is among cities across the country fighting religious discrimination and promoting inclusion among residents and visitors.