Category: April

(COLUMBUS, OH – 4/26/2024) – The Ohio chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) today condemned the Ohio State University’s violent crackdown and alleged use of excessive force on students during an on-campus protest and demanded the administration adhere to its values of protecting the free speech rights of its students.

At least 41 protesters were arrested and charged with “criminal trespassing”, a majority of which were university students.

In a statement, CAIR-Ohio Outreach Director Victoria Hickcox said:

“It is deeply concerning that OSU’s response to students demonstrating peacefully in solidarity with Palestine is forcible suppression of free speech and assembly. This mirrors a nationwide trend of colleges and universities attempting to censor pro-peace, anti-war, and pro-Palestine advocacy on campuses.

“It is alarming to receive reports of protesters having their hijabs ripped off and being arrested while in prayer, Muslim students are not just feeling unsafe on campus, but being actively criminalized. All students should feel safe while expressing their views and engaging in their right to assemble peacefully. We demand OSU immediately cease any further acts of repression against the protesters and take action to respect and protect the speech of its students.”

BACKGROUNDER:

SEE: Why are college students protesting? Ohio State, Miami University join Gaza protests

On Thursday, April 25, students set up an encampment at OSU’s South Oval as part of a “Gaza Solidarity” organized by Students for Justice in Palestine chapters at OSU, University of Cincinnati, University of Toledo, Miami University, Palestine Liberation Movement, Justice Unity & Social Transformation (JUST), Palestinian Women’s Association at OSU, Moritz Law Students for Justice in Palestine, Jews for Justice in Palestine, and Rising Tide Columbus—made up of OSU students, staff, faculty, and alumni, to protest the university’s investments tied to Israeli apartheid, and OSU’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) and State Troopers were deployed to break up the tent encampment. Video showcases that officers were making arrests as a group of protestors were in prayer.

SEE: Video: Protesters arrested at Ohio State University

Earlier in the day, OSU’s Department of Public Safety arrested a faculty member who was not part of any actions, and two graduate students. Videos filmed by student protesters depict their conversations with DPS officers, who were unable to provide the exact reason for students being told to leave the premises, even after fully complying with the constant changing of the University’s policies in order to criminalize students.

SEE: Video shows officers arresting man at OSU encampment, two others also arrested

SEE: Inside the five-hour standoff between police and protestors on the South Oval

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 Outreach Director Victoria Hickcox, vhickcox@cair.com, 513-906-5728

‘Fatal: The Resurgence of Anti-Muslim Hate’ documents 8,061 total complaints received nationwide in 2023, showing even higher spike than after Trump’s Muslim Ban 

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today released its 2024 civil rights report, which reveals the highest number of complaints it has ever received in its 30-year history, at a news conference at its Capitol Hill headquarters in Washington, D.C.   

SEE: 2024 Civil Rights Report: Fatal: The Resurgence of Anti-Muslim Hate   

WATCH THE NEWS CONFERENCE 

Titled “Fatal: The Resurgence of Anti-Muslim Hate,” the report documents 8,061 complaints. Nearly half of all complaints received in 2023 were reported in the final three months of the year.   

The report notes that the 2023 wave of anti-Muslim incidents was a 56 percent jump over the previous year and surpassed even the period following the implementation of President Trump’s Muslim Ban, which saw a 32 percent jump over the previous year.   

Immigration and asylum cases comprised 20% of total complaints received in 2023. Employment discrimination (15%), education discrimination (8.5%), and hate crimes and incidents (7.5%) are among the highest reported categories.    

“The data confirms what we have known for months. Since October 2023, a number of American politicians have blatantly promoted anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian rhetoric in a bid to justify the Israeli government’s genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza,” said CAIR Research & Advocacy Director Corey Saylor. “We are seeing the consequences of this reckless and racist targeting reflected in the data as one of the worst years of anti-Muslim hate recorded in CAIR’s 30-year history.”   

In its previous 2023 Civil Rights report, CAIR marked a first-ever decline in complaints reported to its offices. The report’s findings were considered an indication of progress toward mitigating the impact of Islamophobia in the US.   

SEE: 2023 Civil Rights Report: Progress in the Shadow of Prejudice   

In a statement, CAIR National Director Nihad Awad said: 

“The massive and unprecedented rise in complaints documented in CAIR’s civil rights data is almost certainly a result of the widespread use of anti-Muslim rhetoric and anti-Palestinian racism to justify the genocide in Gaza and silence Americans who have spoken out against it over the past several months. 

“We do not expect an end to the hateful attacks on our communities here until we see an end to the genocide in Gaza. We call on government agencies, companies and local communities to demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire, reject hateful discrimination against American Muslims and others who speak up against the genocide, and take other steps recommended in our report so that our nation can make lasting progress in the fight to advance justice for all.” 

SEE: CAIR-Ohio, Muslim Community Issue Open Letter Urging Elected Officials to Take a Stand Against Israel’s Genocidal Actions, Rise of Anti-Muslim Hate 

The report also details dozens of anti-Muslim incidents that occurred in the United States in 2023.   

SEE: CAIR-Ohio Raises Alarm Over Dramatic Surge in Islamophobic Incidents Linked to Ongoing Crisis in Middle East 

The report also documents continued efforts to challenge the federal government’s watchlist in 2023, including a lawsuit with a dozen plaintiffs seeking an end to the government’s secret watchlist that almost exclusively targets Muslims for harassment and humiliation when they travel.   

SEE: Twenty Years Too Many: A Call to Unwind the FBI’s Secret Watchlist    

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CONTACT:  CAIR-Ohio Executive Director Amina Barhumi, 614-763-6557, abarhumi@cair.com 

(COLUMBUS, OH – 4/5/23) – The Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) strongly condemns the recent violent attacks on Palestinian worshippers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. According to reports, Israeli occupying forces stormed the mosque during prayer and assaulted worshippers, resulting in dozens of injuries. 

SEE: Israeli forces attack worshippers in violent Al-Aqsa Mosque raid 

As an organization dedicated to combating Islamophobia and protecting the civil liberties of Muslims, CAIR-Ohio stands in solidarity with the Palestinian people and condemns the violent abuse against innocent worshippers.  

In a statement, CAIR-Ohio, Columbus & Cincinnati Executive Director Amina Barhumi said: 

“We are outraged by the brutal attack on Palestinian worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is especially egregious considering it is the holiest month for Muslims. This is a blatant violation of their fundamental right to practice their religion freely and without fear. The Israeli government’s systematic oppression of Palestinians, including the use of violence against innocent civilians, is a form of institutionalized Islamophobia that must be addressed by the international community.” 

Following the initial attack, Israel continued its assault on the Gaza Strip, with airstrikes targeting civilian areas and causing widespread destruction and loss of life. CAIR-Ohio condemns these acts of aggression against innocent Palestinians and calls for an immediate end to the violence. 

SEE: Israel attacks Gaza Strip, Al-Aqsa Mosque 

CAIR-Ohio, Cleveland Interim Executive Director Faten Odeh added, “We urge the US government to take immediate action to address this grave injustice and to defend the human rights of Palestinians and to pass the ‘Combating International Islamophobia Act’, which would track these incidents globally. We also call on all people of conscience to speak out against this violence and to support efforts to end the illegal Israeli occupation.” 

CAIR-Ohio joins the global community in demanding that Israel immediately ceases its violent attacks on Palestinian worshippers and respect the human rights of all Palestinians and the holy site of Al-Aqsa, especially during this holy month of Ramadan. 

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, Cincinnati, and Cleveland.  

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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 

CAIR-Ohio empowers American Muslim students with the necessary skills to positively impact their communities.

In 2021, we held our first ever six-week Summer Internship Development Program. This program gives a cohort of undergraduate students the opportunity to work on organizational projects both independently and collaboratively to gain important skills, community connections, and work experience to help advance their future academic and professional endeavors.

Watch the video below to learn more.

Registration for summer 2022 is now open. The program will take place in Columbus AND Cincinnati this year. The four-week training intensive is designed for college students looking to jump-start their skills in grassroots activism and advocacy.

Students may apply by May 15 for CAIR-Ohio’s 2022 Summer Internship Development Program at bit.ly/internwithcairohio.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoCdwXixpcQ&feature=emb_logo

In 2021, our pro bono legal team assisted 365 community members. Our team filed 22 complaints for Muslims who experienced religious discrimination and handled 20 immigration cases.

With your support, we were able to reunite families, fight religious discrimination at work and in schools, and educate and empower our community.

We hope you will take a moment to celebrate these collective achievements and view our 2021 Annual Report.

(COLUMBUS, OHIO 4/6/2022) This week, CAIR-Ohio submitted proponent testimony to the Ohio House Higher Education and Career Readiness Committee on House Bill 353, known as the “Testing Your Faith Act,” in support of the bill protecting religious accommodations for Muslim college students.   Read More “CAIR-Ohio Testifies in Support of Religious Accommodation Bill for College Students” →

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of George Floyd and with all families struggling with loss due to police brutality.

CAIR-Ohio and the Ohio Muslim community stand firm in declaring that Black Lives Matter. The verdict delivered yesterday is a consequence of Derek Chauvin’s actions, but it does not solve the crisis of police brutality nor undo the systemic racism that perpetuates it. Doctrines such as qualified immunity too often shield police from accountability and outsized policing budgets drain resources away from needed community services. We know the work continues to build safe and equitable communities for all.

On Saturday April 10, CAIR-Ohio hosted an Open House to welcome the community to our new Columbus office. We welcomed guests from all over Greater Columbus, shared publications and introduced office staff.