As we celebrate Women’s History Month, CAIR-Ohio is honored to recognize and celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of Muslim women in our local communities. These women are breaking barriers and shattering stereotypes in a variety of fields, including healthcare, education, social justice, and beyond.
Tahseen Naiyer — Islamic School Teacher, Muslim Chaplain at Ohio Reformatory for Women
Tahseen Naiyer has an MS in Physiology, and a M Phil in Pathophysiology. She has been an active member of the Columbus Muslim community for over 30 years. Together with Sr. Shahida Khan, she has been conducting a Women’s Halaqa for Urdu-speaking sisters for nearly three decades, starting at Masjid Omar Khattab and continuing at Noor Islamic Cultural Center. During the day, Tahseen teaches at a private Islamic school in Columbus, where she finds great satisfaction in seeing her students grow and develop as they learn new material.
In addition, Tahseen serves as a Muslim Chaplain at Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville, Ohio. Most of the incarcerated Muslim women she works with are converts, with diverse ethnic backgrounds including African Americans, White Americans, Somalis, Palestinians, and Latinos. Being an incarcerated Muslim woman presents unique challenges, and Tahseen finds some of the women she works with inspiring in their efforts to learn and implement Islam while in prison.
When these women leave prison, they often face significant reintegration challenges and are invisible to the Muslim community at large. Tahseen believes that they need support, especially since they typically receive only $18-20 per month, which limits their ability to afford essential Islamic materials such as hijabs, prayer rugs, dates for Ramadan, and sweets for Eid. As such, Tahseen encourages the community to provide any support they can, both while these women are incarcerated and after their release. Individual contributions can make a significant impact on their lives.
To donate, contact Tahseen at TahseenNaiyer@yahoo.com.
