Category: December

(CINCINNATI, OH – 12/29/23) — CAIR-Ohio and the Ohio Muslim community mourn the loss of Mohammad Al Ajouri, a cherished member of the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) Cincinnati family, and a victim of the ongoing Israeli attacks in Gaza. Al Ajouri, a resilient athlete who triumphed over the loss of a leg sustained during the March of Return protests, tragically lost his life alongside his wife and son.  

WATCH: Message from Mohammad in 2019, after receiving his prosthetic  

“In the face of adversity, Mohammad’s unwavering spirit and determination were a beacon of inspiration for all who knew him,” said PCRF Volunteer Jackie Othman. “He not only conquered personal challenges but also became a source of strength and encouragement for other amputee children at PCRF’s Camp Ability.”   

In 2018, Mohammad journeyed to Cincinnati to receive a prosthetic limb. The dedicated runner and athlete embraced life with unwavering enthusiasm after being fitted with his prosthesis, aspiring to participate in marathons and play soccer once again.  

Mohammad’s impact extended beyond his personal journey; he became an integral part of PCRF’s Camp Ability, where he served as a mentor and inspiration to other amputee children. His dream of becoming a soccer coach reflected his boundless optimism and commitment to giving back to the community.  

During his three months in Cincinnati, Mohammad touched the lives of many with his strength, indomitable spirit, and unwavering determination. His story served as an inspiration to all who had the privilege of meeting him.  

CAIR-Ohio extends its deepest condolences to Mohammad’s family, who now face the unimaginable loss of another son.  

“Mohammad and his family are victims of the ongoing genocide, adding to the tragic toll of over 21,000+ Palestinian men, women, and children killed in the relentless attacks on Gaza,” said CAIR-Ohio Outreach Director Victoria Hickcox. “We continue to advocate for a permanent ceasefire and an end to this inhumane assault on Palestinian civilians.”  

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

(CINCINNATI, OH – 12/18/23) — In a poignant display of solidarity, community members and leaders gathered at Washington Park on Sunday evening for an Interfaith Peace Vigil for Gaza. The event aimed to reflect on the tragic loss of innocent families and children in Gaza and advocate for peace and justice.

SEE: Livestream of the event here.

The program included representatives of different faiths and backgrounds. Speakers shared personal stories of how they and their families have been impacted by the violence in Gaza. Additionally, faith leaders from the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities lead an interfaith prayer session, each offering prayers that reflect the universal values of peace, justice, and solidarity. 

The evening culminated with songs highlighting the calls for peace, from MUSE choir, as well as a children’s choir. The children’s choir sang, “Atouna el Toufoule”, a song that was originally sung by Remi Bandali when she was 4 years old, singing a strong and poignant message about the impact of war during the holidays and a time that’s supposed to be filled with joy. The song was a reminder as we gather near the times of holidays, these are children calling on us to listen as they make their one request during this holiday season: “Give Us Our Childhood. Give Us Our Childhood.”

The following statements were made by speakers at the event: 

Zeinab Schwen, a Palestinian American & Cincinnati Community Leader:

“Most decent people can see with their own eyes, the atrocities that are happening in real time through our screens. Anyone legitimizing this act of genocide has no shred of humanity, no sense of morality, and no knowledge of legality. The collective punishment that Israel is committing, indiscriminate destruction of Gaza’s infrastructures, and the ethnic cleansing of a defenseless population is against international law.”

“My sadness and our trauma and our memory and our own suffering, both recent and historic, will not be weaponized to justify the annihilation of a people. Not in my name. Not now and not ever,” said Joel Pruce, a professor of human rights at the University of Dayton and a Jewish American.

“This is one family’s story, my family. There are thousands more. We don’t need, we cannot have, more families massacred by Israel’s weapons. Weapons the United States is funding. You do not have to be in Palestine to feel the extent of suffering as a direct result of the Israeli occupation. You do not need to be in Gaza to see the pain of families losing entire generations. You do not need to be in the refugee camps to hear the cries for help. But you do have to have one thing however, a heart,” said Yasmine Garadah, a Palestinian American and Cincinnati native.

Aya Hijji, a Palestinian American, shared the harrowing experience of her family fleeing Gaza. She highlighted the challenges faced by her brother’s family and the trauma inflicted on innocent civilians.

“Days and nights pass by, and I can’t sleep without medication, as I too have personally witnessed previous atrocities committed in Gaza. I can only imagine what everyone is going through in Gaza currently. The crisis in Gaza is nothing short of genocide and ethnic cleansing.”

Lisa Saia, a Christian Arab-American, closed with a quote from Nelson Mandela: “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”

“My mother taught me to use my voice to do better and to help those who need it most. To fight the good fight. This isn’t a statement of aggression, it’s about perseverance, even when the road is hard…Humanity is our common cause. Collectively, we have the freedom and responsibility to uphold and safeguard people’s humanity.”

The event was organized by a coalition of diverse organizations committed to advocating for peace, justice, and an end to the crisis in Gaza. The coalition includes: the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund PCRF Cincinnati, Universalists of Greater Cincinnati, CAIR-Ohio, Churches for Middle East Peace, Urban Native Collective, Jewish Voice for Peace Central Ohio, Students for Justice in Palestine (UC), The Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati, St. James Antiochian Orthodox Church, Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), United Church of Christ, New Prospect Baptist Church, Ihsan Islamic Center, Cincinnati Islamic Community Center, Arab Student Association (UC), and Muslim Students Association (UC)

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

(COLUMBUS, OH – 12/11/23) — The Ohio Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio), today, held a press conference calling on Ohio elected officials to take immediate action to end the ongoing genocide in Gaza, an atrocity further fueled by U.S. tax dollars. 

The press conference, attended by local citizens impacted by the crisis, community leaders, and members of the media, highlighted the intensification of violence and human rights abuses in Palestine over the past two months, escalating to what CAIR-Ohio, according to human rights and genocide experts, unequivocally described as genocide. The organization emphasized the role of elected officials in exacerbating and endorsing this crisis, emphasizing that it is funded by the U.S. government. 

Addressing the devastating statistics, CAIR-Ohio called for an urgent ceasefire to halt the genocide inflicted by Israel, which has resulted in the devastating loss of over 17,973 civilians, including at least 7,729 children, leaving more than 48,780 injured and at least 7,780 missing. 

The impact on Ohio Muslims and the broader community was a key focus, with CAIR-Ohio reporting a staggering 290 incident reports and requests for assistance in the past two months, higher than all of reports 2022. The surge includes alarming instances of heightened surveillance and intimidation of Muslims, particularly young professionals and student activists, by the FBI and local law enforcement agencies. 

The following statements were made by speakers at the press conference: 

Amina Barhumi, CAIR-Ohio Executive Director: 

“As we stand here today, the crisis in Palestine continues unabated, with heartbreaking reports of increased casualties, displacement, and destruction.  

“We are at a critical juncture where the United States government, who has funded and enabled this genocide and occupation, must take a strong stance and with its citizens who are demanding a ceasefire along with the rest of the international community. Disturbingly, we are witnessing a troubling situation unfold, with the U.S. invoking its veto power, hindering the path to end the violence.” 

Amy Schuster, Jewish Voice for Peace – Central Ohio Chapter: 

“Never Again: I come here today to bear witness to the violence and harassment being experienced by the people in Gaza, the West Bank, and in our community–and to remind us of the need to Never Again let genocide occur without criticism. I do not want my grief for the people who experienced a violent assault on October 7 to be turned into fuel for ethnic cleansing.” 

Mahmoud Algharabi, Community Member: 

“My oldest sister remains in middle of Gaza..for the past three days, she hasn’t had a complete full meal, running out of money with no food available to buy even if she has the cash. Her concern is not for herself but to make enough breast milk for her infant, Ahmed, also to get enough food for her other three hungry children.  

“My brother, youngest sister, and their families are with my mother in Rafah. They’ve run out of money for at least five weeks. I’ve been sending what I can, but hyperinflation has made basic items unaffordable. Like the price of salt went from around 35 cents to $10 in less than 2 months.  

“Long story short, my family is going through a catastrophic situation where if they don’t get killed by this genocide, they will be killed by diseases, hunger or thirst.” 

Rosan Eldadah, Community Member  

“Today I am here to unveil the profound impact it has on the lives of individuals within your community on a daily basis. I have personally lost 6 family members from a targeted attack by the IDF. This is the brutal truth, and the harsh reality of this genocide. My family’s story is one among millions of others, each story worse than the last.”  

Mohammed Mubarak, Students for Justice in Palestine at OSU Co-President: 

“Although it is nothing new for those living in the West Bank to fear night raids of our homes and unlawful detainment, conditions have gotten much worse in the past two months since October 7. And unfortunately, this violence has impacted my family as well.  

“Today, I want to introduce you to two of my cousins, my neighbors and my childhood playmates: Abdelghani Fares Hamed and Barra Hamed. They are both 20 years old, and intelligent college students at Birzeit University. Barraa is majoring in electrical engineering, and Abdelghani is majoring in political science and is an active leader of their undergraduate student government. 

“They were abducted from their homes in the middle of the night, blindfolded and beaten. Their whereabouts remain uncertain, and we have no idea whether they are healthy, and we are desperately seeking answers.” 

Daoud Al-Akhras, Student Activist at The Ohio State University 

“How much longer can we preach that the United States and its institutions uphold their democratic values, while I am witnessing the most brutal forms of censorship today. Government elected officials should not be able to weigh in on their opinion on how student organizations conduct their operations or suggest that they should be removed from the university on truly baseless claims, if these groups are being targeted in an undemocratic manner, how should one expect student activists to place their faith in the advertised democratic system.” 

Mazen Rasoul, Esq, Local Attorney & Activist: 

“As U.S. citizens, as Palestinian Americans, and as people who are against the killing of any human beings, we can on every American to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people calling for an immediate ceasefire, as a first step towards ending the Israeli occupation and apartheid system.” 

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, Cincinnati & Columbus Executive Director Amina Barhumi: abarhumi@cair.com | 614-763-6557

Calling ALL Ohio Muslim high schoolers. Join us for the Muslim Youth Leadership Program (MYLP) on Monday, January 15, 2024, at our Columbus office!

Applications are open until January 7, 2024, for this impactful political education and leadership-building experience! Apply by December 22, 2023, for priority consideration.

Apply here

(CINCINNATI, OH, 12/01/22)– On Tuesday, the Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) organized and led character-building and anti–bullying workshops for over 200 students from grades K-8 at the International Academy of Cincinnati (INTAC). CAIR-Ohio staff members were invited to speak on bullying prevention through an Islamic lens to Muslim youth.    Read More “CAIR-Ohio Leads Character Building & Anti-Bullying Workshops at Islamic Academy” →

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: 

1. Our community comes first, always. 
2. We value transparency and accountability. 
3. We will never be intimidated from practicing our faith or doing our work. Nothing can harm us except with the will of Allah SWT.

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