CAIR-Ohio Condemns President Trump’s Remarks Targeting Somali Americans, Stands with Ohio’s Somali Community

by Omar Emara in 2025, December, Recent News

(Columbus, OH, 12/04/25)— The Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio), the state’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned recent remarks made by President Donald Trump that targeted Somali Americans and Somali immigrants.

The President’s latest statements continue a troubling pattern of rhetoric directed at Somali and Muslim communities, contributing to an environment of fear, hostility, and scapegoating. Such language has real consequences for families and communities who already face elevated levels of discrimination.

SEE: Trump says he doesn’t want Somalis in the US, urges them to go back to their homeland and fix it

Khalid Turaani, CAIR-Ohio’s Executive Director, said, “President Trump’s remarks are not just hurtful, they are dangerous. When the President of the United States publicly declares that an entire community is unwelcome, that rhetoric fuels real-world consequences. It shows up as bullying in our schools, hostility in our workplaces, and harassment in our neighborhoods. Somali Americans are our neighbors and colleagues, and they make Ohio stronger. They deserve dignity, safety, and respect, not to be scapegoated for political gain.”

Ohio is home to a vibrant and deeply rooted Somali American community whose contributions strengthen the cultural, economic, and civic fabric of our state. CAIR-Ohio condems the President’s remarks and stands firmly with Somali Americans and Somali immigrants in Ohio and across the nation.

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, with three offices in Ohio – Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland. The organization is dedicated to enhancing understanding of Islam, protecting civil rights, promoting justice, and empowering American Muslims.

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Contact:

CAIR Ohio Executive Director Khalid Turaani, KTuraani@cair.com, (614) 401-6692

CAIR Ohio Government Affairs and Outreach Coordinator Caisha Abdullahi, Cabdullahi@cair.com, (614) 401-2920

CAIR-Ohio Advocates for Stronger Hate Crime Protections at Muslim Day at the Capitol

by Omar Emara in 2025, November, Recent News

CAIR-Ohio joined community members, advocates, and leaders from across the state for this year’s Muslim Day at the Capitol in Columbus. The event brought together Muslims from all over Ohio to meet with legislators, share community priorities, and promote policies that uphold justice and equality.

This year, CAIR-Ohio focused on House Bill 306, the Hate Crime Act, a bill designed to create a comprehensive framework for addressing hate crimes in Ohio. The legislation prohibits acts of intimidation or terrorizing based on personal characteristics or beliefs, including religion, race, and national origin. It introduces both civil and criminal remedies, allowing victims to seek damages and enabling prosecutors to hold perpetrators accountable.

CAIR-Ohio urged lawmakers to strengthen HB 306 so that it fully protects faith communities and addresses the rise in religiously motivated hate crimes. Among the organization’s recommendations were:

  • Explicit protection for religious practice and places of worship

  • Clear criminal penalties for faith-based acts of terrorizing

  • A defined legal meaning for “terrorizing” that includes threats, vandalism, and intimidation

  • Mandatory statewide data collection on religious-bias incidents

  • Support funding for victims and law enforcement training on religious bias

Ohio’s current “ethnic intimidation” law only enhances penalties for certain misdemeanors and does not address more serious hate-motivated crimes. HB 306 fills this gap by defining hate crimes more clearly and aligning Ohio law with best practices from other states such as California, New York, and Illinois.

The urgency of this advocacy was underscored by data from CAIR’s 2025 Civil Rights Report, which recorded 8,658 complaints of discrimination and bias nationwide in 2024, the highest number since recordkeeping began in 1996. Ohio chapters alone reported 773 civil rights incidents, several of which were hate-crime related and involved vandalism, harassment, or threats against mosques and Muslim-owned businesses.

CAIR-Ohio representatives shared examples of incidents affecting local families, students, and business owners to show legislators that faith-based harassment is not isolated but part of a larger pattern. They emphasized that hate crimes affect entire communities and that clear legal protections build trust, safety, and accountability.

Strengthening HB 306 is not only about justice but about ensuring that all Ohioans can live, work, and worship without fear. Muslim Day at the Capitol served as a powerful reminder of how civic engagement transforms concern into action.

CAIR-Ohio remains committed to working with legislators, community partners, and supporters to advance this legislation and protect every Ohioan’s right to safety and dignity.

Every Ohioan deserves to live and worship without fear. Strengthening HB 306 affirms Ohio’s commitment to religious freedom, inclusion, and public safety for all.

From “Never Again” to “It’s Just Politics” CAIR-Ohio on The Normalization of Islamophobia

by Khalid Turaani in 2025, October, Recent News

In June 2025, Zohran Mamdani’s upset victory in the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City opened a new chapter in American politics. But alongside the promise of progress came a wave of Islamophobic rhetoric, a stark reminder that bigotry has not disappeared; it has merely changed shape. Al Jazeera+2TIME+2

At CAIR Ohio, we are watching these developments closely, because what happens in New York matters here in Ohio, too. The rising tolerance for anti-Muslim sentiment threatens to erode the protections and civic dignity of Muslim Americans in our state. Below are three key areas of concern:

1. Quiet Tolerance, Not Outrage

Anti-Muslim rhetoric once took the form of overt hostility: explicit slurs, visible exclusion, open violence. Today, the rhetoric is subtler. After Mamdani’s win, researchers documented a sharp spike in online Islamophobic content, posts that framed his faith, heritage or political views not just as “other,” but as incompatible with public office. TIME+1
This shift from “hate we condemn” to “bias we ignore” is dangerous because it normalizes discrimination: it becomes just another part of public discourse rather than an unacceptable exception.

2. The Message Echoes Beyond New York

Though the campaign in question is geographically distant, its tactics and tone reverberate. The same tropes – “Muslims as outsiders,” “Muslim identity as a threat,” “Islam incompatible with American values”, are being used across the country. Al Jazeera+1
In Ohio, Muslim youth, students and professionals are reporting increased discomfort in public life, from subtle jokes and comments to a sense that their belonging is conditional. The shift is less about violent targeting and more about ordinary exclusion, marginalization, or feeling unwelcome.
CAIR Ohio believes this ‘background noise’ of bias must not be ignored, because bias tolerated becomes bias entrenched.

3. Civic Participation at Risk

When public discourse treats Islamophobia as politics rather than prejudice, Muslim Americans may face a chilling effect: Will I speak up? Will I run for office? Will I participate fully in civic life? The backlash against Mamdani’s campaign, even though he won his primary, illustrates how Muslim identity can still be weaponized or discredited. Contending Modernities+1
For Ohio’s Muslim community, this is not hypothetical. It means fewer role models, fewer pathways, less voice. Our mission at CAIR Ohio is to ensure that Muslim Americans are not pushed to the margins of public life, but instead can fully participate, advocate, lead.

What CAIR Ohio Is Doing

  • Monitoring public discourse and media representations of Muslims in Ohio, to identify and call out normalized bias before it escalates.

  • Educating youth and students about civic engagement, identity and how to navigate stigma, so that they remain empowered even in challenging climates.

  • Building coalitions with interfaith and civil-rights partners around the idea that Islamophobia is not “just a Muslim issue” but a threat to our collective civic equity and democratic values.

  • Advocating for media accountability: highlighting how coverage, imagery or commentary can subtly reinforce Islamophobic tropes, and working with news outlets and platforms to raise standards.

Why This Matters

When Islamophobia becomes background noise, we normalize the exclusion of a religious minority and undermine the principle of full belonging in American society. The stakes are high:

  • Young Muslims in Ohio may internalize the message that their faith or identity is a liability.

  • Civic institutions may become less welcoming or remain unaware of the subtle dynamics of exclusion.

  • Our broader movements for justice and equity may be weakened if Muslims are seen only as victims or outsiders rather than full participants and moral voices.

At CAIR Ohio, we believe in reclaiming the narrative: Muslim Americans are not just the subjects of discrimination, they are essential voices in America’s evolving story of pluralism, justice and belonging. We affirm the values of compassion, dignity and courage that Islam teaches, and we commit to ensuring those values shape our civic discourse.

We invite all Ohioans who share these values, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, to stand with us. This is not a Muslim issue alone. It’s a matter of democratic integrity.

CAIR-Ohio Hosts Inspiring Columbus Banquet Featuring Hon. Cori Bush

by Khalid Turaani in 2025, October, Recent News

Community Unites Under Theme “A New Chapter in Civil Rights: American Voices, Muslim Values”

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Ohio, the state’s largest Muslim civil-rights and advocacy organization, hosted its annual Columbus Banquet on October 25, 2025, bringing together hundreds of community members, leaders, and advocates for an evening of unity, empowerment, and reflection.

This year’s theme, “A New Chapter in Civil Rights: American Voices, Muslim Values,” set the tone for a night that celebrated resilience and collective action in the pursuit of justice.

The event featured keynote speaker The Hon. Cori Bush, former U.S. Congresswoman representing Missouri’s 1st District. Bush delivered a powerful address on the importance of continued advocacy for equity, human rights, and justice for all.

Throughout the evening, CAIR-Ohio highlighted its ongoing work to defend civil rights, build interfaith solidarity, and empower Ohio’s Muslim community through education, outreach, and legal advocacy. Attendees reflected on the year’s challenges and successes while reaffirming their commitment to a more just and inclusive future.

The banquet also recognized the dedication of volunteers, partners, and supporters whose efforts strengthen CAIR-Ohio’s mission across the state.

CAIR-Ohio extends its sincere appreciation to all attendees, sponsors, and community members who helped make the 2025 Columbus Banquet a success.

To stay connected or support CAIR-Ohio’s ongoing work.

CAIR-Ohio Addressing Oversight By Employee After Personal Participation in Think-Tank Event Featuring Sanctioned Individual

by Khalid Turaani in 2025, October

(COLUMBUS, OH – 10/28/2025) The Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today announced that it is a reviewing an oversight by an employee who unknowingly participated in a virtual event hosted by a Lebanese think-tank that allegedly included an British individual who may have been recently sanctioned by the Treasury Department.

Last week, the director of CAIR-Ohio’s Columbus office, Khalid Turaani, spoke in his personal capacity as a Palestinian-American activist during a virtual Zoom event about the Palestinian future in the wake of the Oct. 7th attack and the genocide in Gaza. Turaani moderated a panel at the event.

At a separate panel that Turaani did not moderate or attend, one of the dozen or so speakers was reportedly a British citizen of Palestinian origin based in Europe who the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned in May 2025 for allegedly seeking funds for a banned foreign militant organization

In a statement, the CAIR-Ohio Board of Directors said:

“The Columbus office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations has been made aware that one of its employees recently participated in an online panel discussion organized by a think-tank based in Lebanon that may have included a sanctioned individual. The employee participated in a personal capacity and not as a representative of CAIR-Columbus. The event was not affiliated with, or authorized by, CAIR-Columbus or any other CAIR entity. 

“Following a media report that a person recently added to the U.S. Treasury Department’s sanctions list also took part in the event, CAIR-Columbus immediately addressed the matter with the employee. Based on the employee’s account, he participated in a separate panel that did not include the sanctioned individual, had no interaction with the individual, and did not know about their legal status.

“CAIR-Ohio is still reviewing this matter and working to determine any appropriate next steps. CAIR-Ohio strictly upholds all laws and regulations, and opposes terrorism, ethnic cleansing, genocide and all other forms of unjust violence, whether committed by individuals, militant groups or governments.”

CAIR-Ohio’s Columbus director Khalid Turaani said in a statement last week after learning about the issue:

“When I joined a virtual program for a think-tank based in Lebanon, I never participated in any panels with the reportedly sanctioned individual, never interacted with that individual, moderated a panel with completely different individuals, and did so in my personal capacity as a Palestinian-American, not on behalf of any organization; I also did not know about the allegations against him, and I oppose all forms of violence against civilians. I apologize for my oversight, and I am fully cooperating with CAIR-Ohio as it reviews this matter.”

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

CAIR-Ohio Joins Faith Leaders in Urging Gov. DeWine to Stop Deportation of Imam Ayman Soliman

by Khalid Turaani in 2025, July, press release, Recent News

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Ohio (CAIR-Ohio) yesterday joined dozens of interfaith leaders and community members at the Ohio Statehouse to deliver a letter to Governor Mike DeWine, urging him to act immediately to prevent the deportation of Imam Ayman Soliman, a Cincinnati imam and hospital chaplain currently being held in ICE custody.

More than 1,100 Ohioans have signed on in support of Imam Soliman, calling on the Governor to intervene before his scheduled hearing on Tuesday, August 26, in Cleveland. Advocates warn that deportation would place him in imminent danger if returned to Egypt, amounting to what faith leaders have called a “death sentence.”

“Imam Ayman has dedicated his life to serving Ohio families with compassion and faith,” said Khalid Turaani, Executive Director of CAIR-Ohio (Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton). “Governor DeWine has both the moral and political responsibility to ensure that an Ohio faith leader is not deported to certain harm. We urge him to act before it is too late.”

Since his detention last month, CAIR-Ohio has stood alongside interfaith partners, immigrant rights advocates, and legal representatives in calling for Imam Soliman’s release. His case has drawn widespread attention, with faith leaders across traditions joining together to defend his right to remain with his family and congregation in Ohio.

CAIR-Ohio will continue to advocate for Imam Soliman and calls on community members to raise their voices until he is freed and safe from deportation.

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, with three offices in Ohio – Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland. The organization is dedicated to enhancing understanding of Islam, protecting civil rights, promoting justice, and empowering American Muslims.

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CONTACT: Khalid Turaani, Executive Director, CAIR Ohio, kturaani@cair.com

CAIR Ohio Calls for Immediate Release of Cincinnati Chaplain Detained by ICE

by Khalid Turaani in 2025, July, press release, Recent News

The Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) has called for the immediate release of Imam Ayman Soliman, a respected Muslim chaplain at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and imam at Clifton Mosque, who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

SEE: Former Cincinnati Children’s chaplain detained by ICE – USA Today

Imam Ayman Soliman immigrated to the United States from Egypt over a decade ago and was granted asylum based on credible fears of political persecution. He has no criminal record and has lived here for years under lawful asylum status. In December 2024, his asylum was unexpectedly revoked without clear explanation or due process.

He was detained during a routine ICE check-in. Imam Ayman is widely respected for his service to the Cincinnati community, including his role as the first official Islamic chaplain at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where he has provided essential spiritual care to patients and families.

His detention raises serious concerns about due process and the integrity of the U.S. asylum system. Given his history of political activism in Egypt, Imam Ayman faces grave risk of persecution, imprisonment, or even death if deported.

CAIR Ohio strongly condemns this unjust detention and calls on federal immigration authorities to:

  • Immediately release Imam Ayman Soliman and halt deportation proceedings
  • Restore his asylum status.
  • Ensure full transparency in ICE’s decision making and uphold all legal protections for asylum seekers.

In a statement, CAIR-OH Executive Director Khalid Turaani said:

“This is an unconscionable abuse of power that puts the life of a kind and dedicated community leader at risk. Imam Ayman has served Cincinnati with compassion and integrity. Revoking his asylum without cause or process is not only cruel, it is a betrayal of America’s values. We demand his immediate release and a full investigation into this injustice.”

In a statement, CAIR-OH Staff AttorneyBilal Ahmed, Esq., said:

“Imam Ayman’s shockingly abrupt detention raises great concerns regarding potential due process violations. Imam Ayman came to the United States from Egypt to escape precisely the type of arbitrary detention he is facing now. We are truly saddened by the developments in his case, but remain committed to assisting Imam Ayman in whatever capacity we can.”

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, with three offices in Ohio – Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland. The organization is dedicated to enhancing understanding of Islam, protecting civil rights, promoting justice, and empowering American Muslims.

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

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CONTACTS: Khalid Turaani, Executive Director, CAIR Ohio, kturaani@cair.com; Bilal Ahmed, Staff Attorney, CAIR Ohio, b.ahmed@cair.com; Caisha Abdullahi, Government Affairs and Outreach Coordinator, CAIR Ohio, cabdullahi@cair.com

Webinar: Travel Advisory Workshop

by Khalid Turaani in 2025, May, Recent News

Webinar Details

Title: Travel Advisory Workshop
Date: May 22, 2025
Time: 7:00PM
Location: Online (Zoom link provided upon registration)

REGISTER NOW
(Space is limited—secure your spot today!)

CAIR-Ohio is committed to informing and empowering communities through education and action. This webinar will provide you with the tools and knowledge needed to protect yourself and stand in solidarity with those most affected.

Together, we can challenge discriminatory policies and protect our communities from harm.