Category: March

(COLUMBUS, OH – 3/20/24) – On Thursday, March 14, the Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio), hosted its 2nd Annual Statehouse Iftar, in collaboration with Representative Munira Abdullahi at the Ohio Statehouse. With a turnout exceeding 250 community members, the event fostered unity and reflection during the blessed month of Ramadan. 

The evening commenced with an inspiring opening by Representative Munira Abdullahi, followed by, Sheikh Basheer Mahmoud of Masjid Abu Hurairah delivering Quran recitation. The evening’s speakers included CAIR-Ohio Executive Director Amina Barhumi, MAS PACE National Director Ismahan Abdullahi, Imam Abdurrahman Justin Wood, and poet Sara Abou Rashed. Each speaker brought unique perspectives, emphasizing the importance of solidarity and advocacy. 

CAIR-Ohio Executive Director Amina Barhumi discussed the organization’s commitment amplifying voices, advocating for rights, and combating Islamophobia. She highlighted the organization’s work over the past year and announced the release of CAIR-Ohio’s 2023 Annual Report. The report notes a 156 percent increase in incident reports compared to 2022, with most coming in during the last quarter of the year. 

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

CAIR-Ohio made a conscious decision to extend invitations exclusively to elected officials who have actively called for a ceasefire in Gaza.  

“Every evening this Ramadan, we gather and will continue to gather with heavy hearts as we witness the ethnic cleansing of our Palestinian brothers and sisters and contend with the fact that our own government and tax dollars are funding a genocide,” said CAIR-Ohio Executive Director Amina Barhumi. “We are thankful to have allies, that stand with us in solidarity, that hear us and see us, and respond and engage to the commitment for true liberation that includes all of us.” 

SEE: CAIR-Ohio Withdraws Support from Columbus City Council’s Annual Ramadan Iftar Over Failure to Call for Ceasefire 

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

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed the U.S. Supreme Court’s 9-0 ruling allowing CAIR’s lawsuit challenging the federal No Fly List on behalf of Yonas Fikre to move forward over the government’s objection as a “historic milestone for Muslims.”

This case marked the first time that CAIR argued directly before the U.S. Supreme Court. 

Yonas Fikre is an American Muslim who was tortured and imprisoned in the United Arab Emirates at the behest of American officials, and then stranded in Sweden because of his status on the No Fly List, after he refused pressure from the FBI to become an informant.

The government took Fikre off the list after CAIR filed suit and tried to argue that Fikre’s case was moot in order to avoid the threat of a court ruling declaring the watchlist unconstitutional. The FBI has previously removed over ten CAIR clients from the No Fly List in response to lawsuits filed by the civil rights group.

Today, the Supreme Court rejected the government’s argument that lawsuits like Fikre’s case are moot. In a unanimous opinion by Justice Gorsuch, the Court explained that the government’s declaration provided no assurances he would not be placed back on the list if he repeated whatever behavior the Government thought was grounds to put him on in the first place. 

The declaration was silent as to “whether the government might relist him if he does the same or similar things in the future—say, attend a particular mosque or refuse renewed overtures to serve as an informant.” So the Government did not prove “that it cannot reasonably be expected to resume its challenged conduct—whether the suit happens to be new or long lingering, and whether the challenged conduct might recur immediately or later at some more propitious moment.”

CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad lauded the decision: “CAIR has achieved a major victory at the Supreme Court and a historic milestone for American Muslims, including tens of thousands unjustly targeted by our government. We vow to continue our fight until the FBI’s secret watchlists no longer target our communities and undermine the Constitution. We congratulate our amazing legal team for this achievement, and we thank our supporters for entrusting CAIR to protect their rights.”

CAIR National Litigation Director Lena Masri added: “The court’s unanimous decision is a stinging rebuke of the FBI’s longstanding practice of avoiding accountability by removing innocent Muslims who challenge their listing in federal court.”

CAIR National Deputy Litigation Director Gadeir Abbas, who argued the case for Yonas Fikre before the Supreme Court on January 8th, hailed the decision. “The FBI cannot play whack-a-mole with the rights of Muslims. The FBI cannot place innocent Muslims on the No Fly List, only to then block that unconstitutional list from scrutiny by removing those Muslims whenever they file a lawsuit.”

CAIR Senior Litigation Attorney Justin Sadowsky noted that he looked forward to continuing the case. “If the Government is going to defend what it did to Yonas, then we will make sure a Court rules that what it did was illegal. The Government must change its ways if it wants to avoid judicial scrutiny of the No Fly List.”

READ: The Supreme Court’s Decision in FBI v. Fikre

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

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.      

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

La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.            

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Do you like reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR’s work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR’s advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR.                   

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CONTACT: CAIR Senior Litigation Attorney Gadeir Abbas, 720-251-0425, gabbas@cair.com; CAIR Trial Attorney Justin Sadowsky, 646-785-9154, jsadowsky@cair.com; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-999-8292, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com

CAIR-Ohio has decided to withdraw its support from this year’s Columbus City Council Iftar event. We are deeply troubled by the ongoing genocide in Palestine and cannot, in good conscience, partake in festivities with those who refuse to acknowledge the unimaginable suffering that our brothers and sisters in Palestine endure. 

The City Council’s delay in passing a ceasefire resolution and the absence of supportive statements from Mayor Ginther, Council President Shannon Hardin, and Council Members Rob Doran, Nicholas Bankston, Nancy Day-Achauer, and Emmanuel Remy, represent glaring omissions in addressing the ongoing genocide. We thank Council Members Shayla Favors, Lourdes Barroso de Padilla, Melissa Green, and Christopher L. Wyche, who have personally called for a ceasefire after hearing from our communities; however, it remains crucial that the City of Columbus as whole take immediate action to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and address the surge in Islamophobia locally. 

The staggering statistics of at least 31,726 lives lost, and more than 73,792 individuals injured in Gaza and the hundreds more in occupied West Bank, demand urgent attention and intervention. Federal, state, and local leaders, including our Council, must unequivocally stand against the atrocities being committed. It is our moral imperative to speak up when our government is funding and enabling this genocide and complicit in Israel’s human rights violations. 

We urge our Muslim community and allies to: 

• Refrain from events that do not acknowledge or address the ongoing genocide 
• Rescind and pause invitations to government officials until they recognize the violence and humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Gaza and call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire 

We stand with and commend the community members who have continued to show up, pleading with the Council to call for a ceasefire, despite the intimidation and lack of support from the Council.  

This decision is a commitment of solidarity to stand with the oppressed, locally and abroad. 

Response Message for Those Invited:  

Thank you for extending the invitation to the Columbus City Council Iftar. However, considering the ongoing crisis in Palestine and the lack of meaningful action from the City Council and Mayor Ginther, I must respectfully decline to participate this year. My thoughts are with those who continue to suffer, and I stand in solidarity with efforts to address the root causes and promote peace, which cannot be achieved without justice. 

Dear Community Members,

Assalamu Alaikum

Yesterday, the Ohio Supreme Court accepted the resignation of Romin Iqbal; he has forfeited his license and can no longer practice law as an attorney in Ohio.

We welcome this small win, as part of a larger accountability outcome. This is the beginning of closure for the community. As we have shared before, there will be consequences for those that betray the trust of colleagues and community members, and we will continue to update you as news unfolds inshAllah.

We thank those that stood in solidarity with us, and continue to do so, as we remain steadfast in our fight against Islamophobia in all its forms.

As Ramadan is upon us, we ask that you continue to support the organization, as our work to protect and empower the Muslim community frightens anti-Muslim hate groups and continues to be evidence that our work is crucial and necessary.

Click here for the Ohio Supreme Court acceptance of Mr. Iqbal’s resignation.

Click here for the Dispatch article.

(COLUMBUS, OH — 04/27/2023) – During Ramadan, CAIR-Ohio hosted and attended over 25 Iftars across Ohio, including Greater Columbus, Greater Cincinnati, and Greater Dayton. These Iftars were held with the intention to build relationships, community, and funds to ensure that every Ohio Muslim can work, learn, live, and practice their faith free from discrimination, harassment, surveillance, and retaliation.  

Some of the highlights include a historic iftar at the Ohio Statehouse co-hosted with Representative Munira Abdullahi, the first Muslim woman elected to the Statehouse, as well as a night of spiritual reflection and community building at Masjid Abubakar Asiddiq Islamic Center, and dinners held at the CAIR-Ohio offices. 

Through the efforts of these gatherings, CAIR-Ohio was able to discuss the importance of safeguarding Muslim liberties and what that looks like on a community-based level. Thanks to the involvement of supporters and partners, CAIR-Ohio empowers the Muslim community through legal representation, education, government relations, media relations, and advocacy. 

(COLUMBUS, OH, 4/27/23) – On Wednesday, April 19, CAIR-Ohio Executive Director Amina Barhumi and Government Affairs Director Anisa Liban attended the Ohio Statehouse Resolutions Committee Hearing to provide opponent testimony for House Joint Resolution 1 (HJR1). 

CAIR-Ohio staff, along with dozens of organizations and Ohioans, were outraged when they were informed that they could no longer provide testimonies against the measure as a result of the committee halting the hearing and calling a surprise vote after hearing from only 6 constituents. 

TAKE ACTION: Protect the Power of the People in Ohio with Citizen-Led Ballot Initiatives 

HJR 1 would upend the constitutional amendment process and institute minority rule in Ohio, shred our Constitution, and take away our right to decide what happens in our communities. If passed, the bill will:  

· Increase the current voting threshold from 50%+1 to 60%.  

· If citizens spend months collecting signatures to put an amendment on Ohio’s ballot, their initiative will need 60% of votes to become law.  

· Remove the “cure period,” which is a window of time voters are allowed to fix any signature mistakes. This period permits voters to go back out and collect more signatures to try to make up for a shortfall. 

· Require an initiative petition proposing an amendment to the Constitution to have petitions bearing the signatures of at least 5% of the electors of each county in the state, instead of half of the counties. 

CAIR-Ohio voices strong opposition to HJR1, and its companion resolution SJR2, which if passed would make it harder to pass citizen-led ballot initiatives.  

“Our democracy cannot be fully called one, when the basic tenets and bedrock of democracy, of allowing citizens to have a say in their government, are made more difficult”, said Barhumi.  

“This impacts not only voting rights, but healthcare access, access to education, civil and economic justice, and much more. All of which are issues we combat regularly as an organization. Resolutions like this obstruct the voting rights of every Ohioan. HJR1 would also negate our continuous efforts as an organization to empower Muslims and underrepresented communities.” 

Additionally, at the committee hearing, Representative Brian Stewart made a statement on his own accord, what he termed “legal slavery”. CAIR-Ohio demands that he apologizes for these remarks and his conduct.  

“The lunatics in Portland took slavery out of the state constitution. And they did so because they wanted to make sure that you could no longer require people to go to court-ordered counseling, court-ordered drug treatment, court-ordered community service, and arguably, how do you even lock somebody up if you’re a child murderer in Oregon.” Stewart said. “’And do the child murderers in Oregon now get to say, “Well, sorry warden, I don’t want to wake up and make license plates today because that’s slavery.’” 

CAIR-Ohio will join the Ohio Voter Rights Coalition for a Day of Action at the Ohio Statehouse on Wednesday, May 3 to voice opposition to HJR1. We will be ready to mobilize & fight HJR1 by educating community members about the harmful resolution should it be up for vote in a special August election. 

If you are interested in joining, register here. 

(COLUMBUS, OH, 04/13/23) – On Wednesday, April 12, CAIR-Ohio along with Ohio Representative Munira Abdullahi held an iftar dinner bringing together over 250 Muslim community leaders, public officials, and Ohioans of all backgrounds to celebrate the richness of the growing Muslim communities in Ohio and to highlight its diversity. 

CAIR-Ohio Executive Director Amina Barhumi opened the event with welcoming remarks, in which she highlighted the rapid growth of the Muslim community over the past 25 years and the historic occasion of two Muslims being elected to the Statehouse.

Barhumi also shared, “this iftar convenes leaders, allies, and loved ones from across the buckeye state and serves as a reminder that Ohio thrives when its Muslim community and all marginalized groups are represented and feel a sense of belonging.” 

Honorary remarks were delivered by Leader Allison Russo, Quran recitation from Imam Bashir of Masjid Abu Hurairah, and spiritual reflections by Imam Abdurrahman Justin Wood. 

The keynote speaker was Rep. Abdullahi, who spoke about the power of community and engaging Ohio Muslims, and how honored she is to be the first Muslim woman to be elected to the Statehouse. She shared how Islam influences her work as an elected official and lawmaker, and in her approach to serving all her constituents. Abdullahi credits the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as her role model of leadership, and the example of justice, and treating all people with dignity and respect. 

CAIR-Ohio is thrilled to have been a part of organizing this momentous event and looks forward to doing so for years to come. 

(COLUMBUS, OH, 04/06/23)– On Wednesday, March 29, CAIR-Ohio joined the VoteRiders Press Conference at the Ohio Statehouse against House Bill (HB) 458, which was signed into law in January by Gov. DeWine. HB 458 is a law that implements new voting initiatives that impact Ohio’s most vulnerable and underrepresented communities. 

HB 458 takes effect this week requiring Ohioans to present a state-issued photo ID to vote, whether during early voting or on Election Day. This new law will apply to voters participating in local and county elections taking place this year. In addition to the ID requirements, the new law also limits early voting hours and restricts access to absentee ballots, further limiting the ability of Ohioans to participate in the democratic process. 

Ohio’s new ID laws are part of a larger trend of voter suppression efforts across the country that disproportionately impact communities of color, low-income individuals, and other marginalized groups. “These laws undermine the fundamental principles of democracy and threaten to disenfranchise millions of eligible voters,” said CAIR-Ohio Intern Khalid Dada. 

View the full press conference here.  

Learn more about Ohio’s new voter ID requirements here and view our Voter Guide for help voting. 

CAIR-Ohio’s 2023 Summer Internship Development Program applications are now due by Sunday, April 9th! A few spots left for applicants in Columbus.

If you’re interested in joining our four-week training intensive designed to jump-start college students’ skills and empower them to become civically engaged community members, apply here.

Interns will develop professional skills, gain insight into the societal impact of public service, create important community connections, and obtain work experience to help advance their future academic and professional endeavors.

Interns will work across all departments and gain hands-on experience in the following areas:

• Research & Policy – Interns will provide support in developing research projects that are aligned with the community’s needs and priorities, and in evidence-based policymaking and advocacy efforts aimed at improving the lives of Muslims in Ohio.
• Outreach & Government Affairs – Interns will support in organizing and mobilizing Muslims around campaigns and in compiling and designing educational resources to help in empowering the Muslim community.
• Communications & Media – Interns will work closely with the Communications & Media Team to assist in communication-related content and processes, including crafting compelling press releases, organizing and supporting press conferences, and assisting with content creation.
• Legal & Civil Rights – Interns will work closely with the Legal & Civil Rights Team to assist in research and case preparation, organize oral arguments and participate in simulated legal proceedings, and participate in community outreach and education efforts.