(COLUMBUS, OH – 11/13/23) — The Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today expressed deep concern over the alarming rise in violence and discrimination faced by the Muslim community, directly correlated with the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine.
“We are witnessing an unprecedented number of hate incidents that are both shocking and horrifying,” said CAIR-Ohio Deputy & Legal Director Lina Abbaoui. “CAIR-Ohio emphasizes the urgent need for collective action to address and rectify this disturbing trend. We must stand united against hate in all its forms and work towards ensuring the safety, well-being, and freedom of our Muslim community and anyone else who speaks up against human rights abuses.”
She added: “CAIR-Ohio is deeply concerned about the welfare and safety of the Muslim community and urges immediate action to address the root causes of this surge in Islamophobia. We call on elected officials, community leaders, and the media to recognize the impact of their statements and work toward fostering an environment of tolerance, understanding, and respect.”
BACKGROUNDER:
For over the past 5 weeks, the international community has witnessed the devastating impact of Israeli forces’ attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has claimed the lives of at least 11,025 innocent Palestinian civilians, including 4,324 innocent children. At least another 25,000 civilians have been injured, translating to a heart-wrenching statistic of one Palestinian child murdered every ten minutes in Gaza.
Tragically, the numbers continue to rise, with an additional 120 Palestinians, including 30 children, killed in the West Bank.
The crisis and escalation in Gaza and the West Bank have prompted a marked increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes, assaults, and discriminatory incidents. The impact on the Muslim and Arab-American community’s safety is exacerbated by one-sided statements from elected officials and misinformation propagated by media outlets, fostering a hostile environment that encourages discrimination and violence against those who are Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, perceived Muslim, Jewish, and anyone advocating for the human rights of Palestinians.
Recent data from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) paints a disturbing picture, with over 1,283 new network-wide complaints of anti-Muslim and anti-Arab discrimination in just one month. Notably, CAIR-Ohio alone has received 195 complaints in the same period, surpassing the total number for the entire year of 2022. Of these, at least 151 are directly related to the situation in Palestine.
The statistics paint a grim picture, indicating an uptick of over 600% calls for help from October 7 through November 4 in Ohio, with more reports coming in daily. These incidents range from verbal abuse to physical assaults and discriminatory practices, creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity for the Muslim community in Ohio.
SEE: CAIR-Ohio Condemns Anti-Muslim Rhetoric Targeting Muslim Representative
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. CAIR-Ohio has three offices in Ohio – Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Ohio, Cincinnati & Columbus Executive Director Amina Barhumi: abarhumi@cair.com | 614-763-6557
