(COLUMBUS, OHIO 1/13/2021) In December 2021, CAIR-Ohio’s Feeding Families Project volunteers distributed holiday gift cards to the residents at the YWCA Family Shelter. The Feeding Families Project volunteers have been providing meals at the shelter on the second Friday of each month since the shelter opened in 2005. Read More “CAIR-Ohio Continues Feeding Families Project”
January and February sign-ups are now AVAILABLE! The clinic will be held virtually via Zoom.
CAIR-Ohio’s Second Chances Clinic is a legal clinic providing record sealing assistance to the community. Record-sealing, often called expungement, allows eligible individuals to have their criminal records sealed from the public eye. This process is vital for helping people reenter and reconnect with their communities.
Register here.
For questions, contact CAIR-Ohio Staff Attorney Maryam Abidi: mabidi@cair.com | 614-401-6692.
CAIR National’s new Islamophobia Report “Islamophobia in the Mainstream” is out NOW: This report exposes more than $105 million into 26 U.S. Islamophobia Network groups between 2017–2019 & details more than a dozen anti-mosque incidents & Islamophobia in our schools, politics, and social media. Read and share the report today!
(COLUMBUS, OH, 1/12/2022) CAIR-Ohio welcomes the Ohio Supreme Court’s ruling today that the drawn state House and Senate maps are unconstitutional and must be redrawn to meet voter-approved provisions of the Ohio Constitution to reduce partisan political gerrymandering. The commission has 10 days to fix violations. Read More “Ohio Supreme Court Strikes Down Gerrymandered State House and Senate Maps!”
Dear valued clients and community members,
As the newly appointed Legal Director for CAIR-Ohio, I look forward to the crucial work ahead in defending the civil rights of Ohio Muslims. Our attorneys are committed to the necessary work of empowering the community and combating anti-Muslim discrimination and Islamophobia. Read More “A Message from Legal Director Lina Abbaoui, Esq.”
(COLUMBUS, OH, 1/06/22) – On Friday, December 31, the Ohio Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) co-hosted a solidarity march with several Muslim and interfaith groups following the heinous murder of Imam Mohamed Hassan Adam. The march and vigil were to show support for the immense loss in the Muslim community and to call for justice and accountability. Read More “CAIR-Ohio Co-Hosts Solidarity March to Honor Imam Dr. Mohamed Hassan Adam”
(COLUMBUS, OH – 12/24/2021) – The Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) and its national headquarters (CAIR) today offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in the death of Imam Mohamed Hassan Adam of Columbus, Ohio, whose body was found today.
Read More “CAIR-Ohio Calls for Justice in Murder of Columbus Imam, Offers $10K Reward for Info”
To all those who have offered solidarity, support, and prayers for the CAIR-Ohio team and our community over the past 11 days, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you for the outpouring of love.
We are grateful for every individual and organization who stands with us now in the face of anti-Muslim hate. Our work continues with a renewed commitment and fervor, and we are only able to do this through your support as champions of justice.
From across the state and the nation, faith leaders, supporters, and partners working to advance civil rights and justice for all have reached out. Many have sent their support not only for CAIR-Ohio, but for the Ohio Muslim community as a whole. You can read some of those public statements below. To all those who have sent messages, voicemails, and emails, please know we are responding as soon as we are able, and you and your families are in our hearts. Read More “Thank You for Your Support”
(COLUMBUS, OH, 12/23/21) – The Ohio Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) met with community members on Tuesday, Dec. 21, to share additional information and answer questions regarding the information shared by the chapter last week.
Members of the CAIR-Ohio Columbus and Cincinnati staff, as well as National Board Chair of CAIR, Roula Allouch, gathered with the community virtually to ensure individuals from across Ohio were able to join, as well as to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 as Omicron infections spread.
“To remain transparent, we would like for you all to hear directly from us, especially as it pertains to all that has unfolded, sharing information about ongoing internal/external investigations, and most importantly in our fight to combat Islamophobia and anti-Muslim discrimination,” said Acting Executive Director Amina Barhumi. “While recent events are alarming, it is evidence that our work to fight anti-Muslim discrimination is crucial and necessary.”
Community Affairs Director Whitney Siddiqi walked through the timeline of events leading up to the announcement of the termination of the chapter’s former executive director, and information about the Islamophobic organization “Investigative Project on Terrorism” targeting CAIR, as well as the larger $57 million Islamophobia network fueling the spread of hate and misinformation.
Similar information was shared last week in a meeting with mosque leadership across the state of Ohio.
On Tuesday evening, the team also shared details about a second individual, not part of CAIR and outside the state of Ohio, who has come forward and confessed to working with IPT and spying on their Muslim community in return for payment.
The CAIR-Ohio team answered thoughtful questions from attendees and reassured the community that it does not have evidence that Iqbal shared personal information related to clients, donors, or community members.
“IPT is particularly invested in creating and spreading the Islamophobic narrative that CAIR is a terrorist organization,” said Civil Rights Attorney Maryam Abidi. “The evidence we have shows that Romin collected information primarily about the CAIR network, CAIR national, and the legislative and governmental relationships we as an organization hold.”
Nonetheless, Barhumi acknowledged the grief and anxiety many in the community are likely feeling. Both Barhumi and Allouch spoke of the difficulty of processing this heavy news and shared resources with attendees, such as the Family & Youth Institute’s Three Tips on Healing Toolkit.
Additionally, Acting Legal Director Lina Abbaoui shared that the clients and community members who rely on CAIR-Ohio are the organization’s first priority.
“We are working to ensure clients are supported through this leadership transition. If you are a current legal client, you will be contacted by our legal team soon, if not already.”
Barhumi closed the meeting with a commitment to keeping the community informed of updates, and shared what comes next for CAIR-Ohio and its fight against anti-Muslim hate.
“Despite these attempts to harm us, we are undeterred,” she said. “This is the work we do – and this tells us we are doing something right. Our work to fight anti-Muslim bigotry across the United States is one for the long haul, but we have the tools and the support of this community to make a difference.”
You can find more information and read CAIR-Ohio’s full community message released on Dec. 14, 2021, here.
Additionally, you can find a message from Acting Executive Director Amina Barhumi here.
Assalamu Alaikum
Dear Community Members,
On behalf of our entire CAIR-Ohio team, I hope that you and your families are doing well. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you for the outpouring of love and support over the past few days.
Please view our full community letter here.
Our work to protect and empower the community frightens anti-Muslim hate groups. While recent events are alarming, it is evidence that our work is crucial and necessary.
Our fight against Islamophobia and anti-Muslim discrimination is not new. Today it has come to our local community, and it hurts. But Iqbal was a small tool in a large anti-Muslim network operating nationwide.
Our entire CAIR network is on the offense. See sample evidence released by CAIR national. Accountability for the anti-Muslim hate group and those who worked with them will come in due time.
Since learning of this betrayal, our exceptionally talented team has been working around the clock, ensuring a successful transition of leadership, keeping our community and other stakeholders informed, and working with a renewed commitment to our mission. We do our work authentically, effectively, and to the highest standards of excellence.
As such, we are moving forward with these guiding principles:
We are grateful to Allah SWT for His protection and for the privilege to continue this important work. We recognize that our work to fight anti-Muslim bigotry across the United States is one for the long haul.
In the meantime, please reach out to us directly if you have any questions. You can contact the CAIR-Ohio Columbus office at 614-451-3232 and the Cincinnati office at 513-281-8200.
Sincerely,
Amina Barhumi, Acting Executive Director
