Category: recent news

(COLUMBUS, OHIO, 02/19/19) — On Friday February 8, 2019 CAIR-Columbus Government Affairs and Development Coordinator Usjid Hameed participated in a “Teaching Tolerance” event attended by City Year Columbus Americorp members.

The presentation focused on educating City Year Columbus Americorp members dealing with instances involving students using language that could be interpreted as harmful or marginalizing. Hameed was among one of the guest speakers invited to facilitate these discussions as well as provide best practices and insight in how to foster a school environment in which tolerant language is utilized.

(COLUMBUS, OHIO, 02/06/19) — On Saturday, February 2, 2019, more than 400 people turned out for CAIR-Columbus’ 22^nd Annual Fundraising Banquet to support the advocacy organization’s work.

Guest speakers included Ilhan Dahir, a Rhodes Scholar and civil liberties advocate, Nihad Awad, the National Executive Director of CAIR, Imam Johari Abdul Malik, the Director of Outreach at the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center, and various CAIR-Columbus staff members.

CAIR-Columbus also received documents of recognition from Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, Columbus City Council, Columbus City Mayor Andrew Ginther, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, State Senate Minority Leader Kenny Yuko, State Senator Stephanie Kunze, and Dublin City Mayor Greg Peterson.

The program included a recorded video message from U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and CAIR-Columbus’ 2018 annual video.

Photos from the event can be viewed here.

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.

(COLUMBUS, OHIO, 01/21/19) — On Saturday, January 19, 2019, CAIR-Columbus Deputy Director Zainab Ezzeddine spoke at the Ohio Women’s March in Columbus.

The event was attended by hundreds of activists and concerned citizens throughout central Ohio. Ezzeddine spoke about the need to bring together different women and allies of all stripes to create a more inclusive and equitable society.

“I felt incredibly privileged to speak at this year’s Women’s March,” Ezzeddine said after the event. “It is vital that Muslim women be present at events like these. In order to secure our own freedoms, we must advocate for the freedoms of all women in America, Muslim or otherwise.”

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. The CAIR-Ohio affiliate has three chapters in Ohio – Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati. Their 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.

(COLUMBUS, OHIO, 1/18/19) — On Saturday, January 5, 2019, CAIR-Columbus Public Affairs Coordinator Usjid Hameed attended the Gandhi King Institute for Nonviolence and Social Justice hosted by the Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage, CA.

The two-day long institute sought to carry on Dr. King’s work as well as bring together icons from the 1960s civil rights movement and activists of today from across the country.

Figures from the time of Dr. King included Minnijean Brown-Trickey, who was a part of “the Little Rock Nine” in 1957, Bernard Lafayette, who participated in the Freedom Rides in Alabama and was a co-founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Andrew Young, who was one of Dr.King’s closest confidants and the Executive Director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and many others. The gathering was called by Clarence Jones, Dr. King’s personal attorney and close adviser.

(COLUMBUS, OHIO, 12/17/18) — On Sunday, December 16, CAIR-Columbus, alongside seven local mosques, organized the first ever Central Ohio Mosque Day.

On this day, between 1:30 and 4:30 PM, all participating mosques collectively open their doors to the community help their interfaith community members get to know their Muslim neighbors better. Visitors had an opportunity to meet members of their local Muslim community, enjoy light food and learn about Islam. CAIR-Columbus assisted with coordination, advertising, and contacted media for the event.

VIEW MEDIA COVERAGE BY SPECTRUM1 HERE, CHANNEL 4 HERE AND CHANNEL 10 HERE.

Participating mosques included:

• Noor Islamic Cultural Center: 5001 Wilcox Rd. Dublin, OH 43016, (614) 527-7777
• Abubakar Assidiq Islamic Center: 591 Industrial Mile Rd. Columbus, OH 43228, (614) 632-3571
• Masjid Namrah: 4501 Refugee Rd. Columbus, OH 43232, (614) 477-6795
• Ahlul Bayt Society of Columbus: 2580 W Dublin, Granville Rd. Columbus, OH 43235
• Masjid Omar Ibn El-Khattab: 580 Riverview Dr. Columbus, OH 43202, (614) 262-1310
• Masjid Ibn Taymiyah: 2334 Mock Rd. Columbus, OH 43219, (614) 418-9137
• Polaris Masjid: 8542 Cotter St. Lewis Center, OH 43035, (937) 506-0850

“The Central Ohio Open Mosque Day was about ensuring that we continue to build bridges with one another, regardless of background,” CAIR-Columbus Public Affairs Coordinator Usjid Hameed said after the event. “Both CAIR-Columbus and the participating mosques were very pleased with the turnout. We look forward to putting on this event next year and making sure even more people attend.”

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. The CAIR-Ohio affiliate has three chapters in Ohio – Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati. Their 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.

(COLUMBUS, OHIO, 12/5/18) — On Tuesday, December 4, CAIR-Columbus Public Affairs Coordinator Usjid Hameed testified before the Ohio Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee against Substitute House Bill 228 – “Regards self-defense and handling firearms,” a bill with “Stand-Your-Ground” provisions.

The bill, sponsored by Reps. Johnson and LaTourette, amends numerous portions of Ohio state law, particularly as they pertain to firearms, concealed carry requirements, and self-defense.

CAIR-Columbus emphasized, citing data from Florida — a state with its own “Stand-Your-Ground” law — that the bill’s expansion of the circumstances under which a person has no duty to retreat before using force could lead to an increase in “justified” gun homicides involving Ohio’s Muslim community.

On Thursday, November 8th and Wednesday, November 14th, CAIR-Columbus Public Affairs Coordinator Usjid Hameed gave a presentation about Islam and Muslims to students at Columbus State Community College. The students were enrolled in a program to become American Sign Language (ASL). interpreters. Between both days, Hameed spoke to four different classes.

He discussed the challenges faced by American-Muslims and talked about the various ways in which CAIR-Columbus serves the local community. He also educated the students on foundational Islamic beliefs and practices to help the future ASL interpreters become more culturally competent when interacting with Muslims.

“It is encouraging to see future American Sign Language interpreters take an active interest in the Muslim community,” Hameed said. “Events like these present opportunities to work towards a more inclusive and just society in which people’s differences are appreciated, not feared or hated.”

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. The CAIR-Ohio affiliate has three chapters in Ohio – Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati. Their 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.

Survey shows 95 percent of eligible Muslim voters turned out at the polls, favored Democrats over Republicans by 78% to 17%

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/7/18) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today released the results of its “American Muslim Voters and the 2018 Midterm Election” exit poll indicating that 95 percent of eligible Muslim voters turned out at the polls. Seventy-eight percent of Muslim voters cast ballots for Democratic Party candidates and 17 percent for Republican Party candidates.

READ THE ENTIRE REPORT: American Muslim Voters and the 2018 Midterm Election

[NOTE: CAIR also released a preliminary list of 55 Muslims elected to public office in 2018. GO TO:https://tinyurl.com/MuslimsElectedin2018 ]

“The high turn out of Muslim voters and the election of Muslims and members of other minority communities nationwide are an affirmation of the strength and diversity of our political system and a rebuke to the Trump administration’s divisive and fear-based policies,” said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. “It was obvious that many young people who voted Tuesday were concerned about the direction of our nation and wished to make their voices heard in their local community and in Washington, D.C.”

SEE: CAIR-SFBA Celebrates Election of Five American Muslims to Local Office

CAIR-NJ Recognizes Historic Night of NJ Muslim Election Victories Statewide

CAIR’s survey results were drawn from a random sample telephone survey of 1,027 American Muslim registered voters conducted by an independent polling firm. Survey participants were drawn from a database of more than 250,000 Muslim voter households. Calls were conducted on the evening of November 6. Respondents included 650 men and 377 women from across the nation. The poll’s margin of error is +/- 3.1%, with a confidence level of +/- 95%.

Highlights of CAIR Exit Poll Findings:

• 95% of registered Muslim voters cast ballots in this year’s midterm election.
• 78% of Muslim voters primarily voted for the Democratic Party candidates and 17% for Republican Party candidates.
• 46% of Muslim voters consider themselves liberal on social issues, while 35% consider themselves conservative.
• 43% of Muslim voters consider themselves fiscally conservative, while 40% consider themselves liberal.
• 26% of Muslim voters who primarily voted for Democratic candidates perceived themselves as being conservative on social issues. Moreover, 36% perceived themselves as being fiscally conservative.
• 68% of Muslim voters thought Islamophobia and anti-Muslim sentiment in the U.S. increased while 17% thought it decreased in the past year.
• 78% of registered Muslim voters who primarily voted for Democratic Party candidates thought Islamophobia has increased in the past year. Conversely, only 33% of registered Muslim voters who primarily voted for Republican Party candidates thought Islamophobia has increased in the past year.
• 53% of Muslim voters became more interested in politics since the 2016 Presidential election, while 34% maintained the same level of interest in politics and 13% became less interested in politics.
• 55% of Muslim voters have become more actively involved in politics and/or civically engaged since the 2016 Presidential election, while 45% have not.
• Out of those Muslim voters who have become more actively involved in politics and/or civically engaged since 2016 Presidential election:
  • 20% have donated to a political or social campaign.
  • 25% have donated their time by volunteering with a local charity or civic-minded or religious organization.
  • 18% have donated their expertise by using their skills and/or network to advance social/political engagement.
  • 37% have primarily been involved in another way.
• Muslim voters who primarily voted for Republican Party candidates were more likely to contribute money as their primary form of involvement, while Muslim voters who primarily voted for Democratic Party candidates were more likely to volunteer with a local charity or civically minded or religious organization.
• 15% of Muslim voters are very involved in activities at their mosque or Islamic Center, while 26% are somewhat involved, 27% are not very involved, 28% are not at all involved, and 4% refused to answer.
• 49% of Muslim voters who primarily voted for Republican Party candidates were more likely to not at all be involved in activities at the mosque or Islamic Center in comparison to their Democratic Party supporting counterparts (23%).
• 63% of survey respondents identified as male and 37% as female.
• Muslim women are more likely to support Democratic Party candidates and less likely to support Republican Party candidates than their male counterparts.

Last night, CAIR welcomed the victories of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress. Ilhan Omar won in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District and Rashida Tlaib won in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District. In Indiana, Rep. André Carson (D) also won his re-election bid for the 7th District.

SEE: CAIR Welcomes Historic Night of American Muslim Election Victories as 2 Muslim Women Elected to Congress

CAIR and its chapters nationwide have mobilized community members to vote during the primary and general elections.

CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

On Thursday, November 1, CAIR-Columbus hosted its final phone banking event to get out the vote prior to the general election on November 6th.

Local volunteers dedicated their time to come into the CAIR-Columbus office and helped run the non-partisan phone bank to encourage new voters to get to the polls on election day.

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. The CAIR-Ohio affiliate has three chapters in Ohio – Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati. Their 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.

COLUMBUS–During a telephonic town hall meeting on Tuesday, representatives from All Voting is Local, CAIR-Columbus, CRIS as well as Ann Fisher from All Sides educated new citizens about the electoral process to empower Ohio voters who speak Arabic, Chinese, Nepalese, Somali and Spanish.

Advocates notified by phone or text, an estimated 30,000 new American voters to participate in the telephone town hall. The call offered an opportunity for voters to ask questions about the voting process and to learn about the coalition’s effort to recruit multilingual poll workers to staff polling places on Nov. 6.

All Voting is Local and CAIR have worked to recruit poll workers throughout Ohio, part of a campaign to tackle the nationwide shortage of poll workers. The campaign, “Be the Difference, Be a Poll Worker” has used billboards, print, digital and radio ads in various languages to ensure polling places throughout Ohio are staffed with enough trained workers. Since August, organizers have recruited over 35 poll workers in 4 languages.

To learn more about where multilingual poll workers will be placed on election day, please visit, http://bit.ly/NewAmericanVote.

On Friday, October 26th, CAIR-Columbus conducted a “Know-Your-Rights” presentation for congregants at Masjid Ibn Taymia in north Columbus.

CAIR-Columbus Legal Director, Romin Iqbal, spoke about constitutional rights when interacting with law enforcement, rights of students in school, right to practice religion at work, and other civil rights. The presentation took place right after Friday prayers and was attended by over 100 congregants.

Community members who are being denied religious accommodation in school or at the workplace are urged to fill out an incident report form online at https://www.cair-ohio.com/request-legal-help/.

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

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CONTACT: CAIR-Columbus Legal Director Romin Iqbal, 614-451-3232, riqbal@cair.com

(COLUMBUS, OHIO, 10/29/2018) — CAIR-Columbus was deeply troubled and saddened by the targeting of a synagogue in Pittsburgh this past weekend when a gunman opened fire on a group of worshippers. We offer our deepest condolences to those impacted by the horrific attack and stand in solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters.

We hope that our central Ohio community can come together to support one another and stand firmly against anti-Semitism and bigotry in all its forms.

VIDEO: CAIR-Columbus Rep Says American Muslims Stand with Jewish Community

“Our Jewish neighbors are in our thoughts and prayers,” Romin Iqbal, CAIR-Columbus legal director, said following the attack. “This tragic incident shows us that there is still much work to do in making sure that all people, regardless of their faith, can practice safely, freely, and openly. CAIR-Columbus will continue to work to ensure that central Ohio remains an inclusive and compassionate community.”

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. The CAIR-Ohio affiliate has three chapters in Ohio – Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati. Their 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

On Tuesday, October 30^th, CAIR-Columbus, the Andrew Goodman Foundation, All Voting is Local, CRIS, and Ann Fisher from All Sides will participate in a telephone townhall targeted at New American voters. The goal is to engage these voters in the electoral process by providing them the tools and resources they need to be able to cast their ballot on election day.

The telephone townhall will target over 10,000 individuals and will provide critical information on where to vote, how to check one’s registration, what type of ID to bring, and much more, including a new initiative to have multilingual poll workers placed at designated polling locations which serve high levels of New Americans.

SEE MEDIA COVERAGE HERE

CAIR-Columbus, along with the help of various other organizations, has spent the last several months recruiting poll workers that are proficient in Arabic, Spanish, Somali, Chinese. This program seeks to break down barriers to voting for voters who lack proficiency in English. The program is being conducted with the approval of the Franklin County Board of Elections.

While the Board of Elections would recruit some multilingual poll workers in the past, CAIR-Columbus, the Andrew Goodman Foundation, All Voting is Local, and other partners have helped to greatly expand the program.

VIEW THE POLLING LOCATIONS WITH MULTILINGUAL POLL WORKERS HERE

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. The CAIR-Ohio affiliate has three chapters in Ohio – Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati. Their 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.

On Thursday, October 18, CAIR-Columbus Public Affairs Coordinator Usjid Hameed spoke about Islam and cultural competency to students enrolled in a multicultural policing class at Ohio University Lancaster Campus in Fairfield County.

During the presentation, Hameed discussed the diversity of beliefs in Islam, dispelled stereotypes, addressed the importance of interaction between law enforcement and Muslim communities, shared some of the challenges faced by CAIR-Columbus when working with law enforcement, and fielded questions from the class.

(COLUMBUS, OHIO, 10/3/2018) — The Columbus, Ohio, chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Columbus) announced today that it has successfully resolved another citizenship delay lawsuit.

The suit, filed in federal court for the Southern District of Ohio, was on behalf of a local Muslim man, Mr. Mohamed Djebbari, who had been a lawful permanent resident of the United States since 2010.

Mr. Djebbari works as a religious teacher in a local Columbus mosque. Even though Mr. Djebbari had no criminal record and had met all requirements of eligibility for receiving his citizenship, his application for citizenship was not adjudicated by USCIS for nearly three years.

Mr. Djebbari made numerous inquiries with USCIS to check on the status of his application. When his issue did not get resolved, he also contacted the office of U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown to seek his help in resolving this matter. USCIS informed the office of Senator Brown that they were monitoring the progress of Mr. Djebbari’s case and did not provide any other information.

After waiting for close to three years, Mr. Djebbari contacted the CAIR-Columbus legal department to seek their help in getting his application adjudicated.

“We are pleased to announce that since the filing of our lawsuit, we were able to successfully resolve the delay in adjudication, and our client was officially sworn in as a United States citizen last week,” said CAIR-Columbus Legal Director Romin Iqbal, one of the attorneys who filed the case. “Applicants from Muslim-majority countries are often subjected to lengthy delays in all types of immigration applications because they are viewed with suspicion by USCIS due to their country of origin, travel or other subjective criteria that does not actually bar them from qualifying for the immigration benefit they seek.”

CAIR-Columbus has reported an increase in immigration delays of all types and has filed immigration-related lawsuits for over 43 plaintiffs just since the beginning of 2017. The majority of those cases have already been successfully resolved in favor of plaintiffs.

Ohio Muslims who are facing similar delays are being urged to contact CAIR-Columbus for assistance by filing an incident report online at: https://www.cair-ohio.com

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.

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CONTACT: CAIR-Columbus Legal Director Romin Iqbal, 614-451-3232, riqbal@cair.com