(COLUMBUS, OH – 3/15/23) – The Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) commends the United Nations (UN) for adopting a resolution to declare March 15th as the “International Day to Combat Islamophobia”.
CAIR-Ohio believes that this historic resolution will help raise awareness about the growing problem of Islamophobia around the world and encourage countries such as the United States to take concrete steps to combat this issue. The International Day to Combat Islamophobia, adopted in 2021, is observed annually and will provide an opportunity for people around the world to speak out against discrimination, hate speech, and violence directed at Muslims.
“We welcome the United Nations’ decision to designate March 15th as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia,” said CAIR-Ohio, Columbus & Cincinnati Executive Director Amina Barhumi. “This resolution sends a clear message that Islamophobia is a global problem that must be addressed through collective action.”
Barhumi added: “As an organization dedicated to defending civil rights and liberties, CAIR-Ohio remains committed to working with partners at the local, national, and international levels to promote tolerance, respect, and understanding for all people, regardless of their religion or background. We urge the Biden Administration to pass the ‘International Combatting Islamophobia Act’, which would designate a special envoy at the State Department to monitor Islamophobia globally.”
CAIR-Ohio, Cleveland Interim Executive Director Faten Odeh added: “March 15th is a day that will forever be etched in the hearts and minds of the Muslim community worldwide. On that day, 51 innocent Muslim worshippers were murdered in cold blood at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. We must recognize the immense loss of Muslim lives and work towards ensuring that such tragedies never happen again. The International Day to Combat Islamophobia is a positive step towards that goal.”
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. CAIR-Ohio’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. CAIR-Ohio has offices in Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Ohio, Columbus & Cincinnati Executive Director Amina Barhumi, abarhumi@cair.com, 614-763-6557; CAIR-Ohio, Cleveland Interim Executive Director Faten Odeh, fodeh@cair.com, 216-830-2247
