CAIR-Ohio Hosts 10th Annual ‘The Big Table’ in Collaboration with The Columbus Foundation to Foster Dialogue on Rights, Belonging, and Human Dignity

by Rita Puente in 2026, press release, Recent News, September
COLUMBUS, OH (09-29/2026)— CAIR-Ohio recently joined community organizations, civic leaders, and local residents across Central Ohio for the 10th annual iteration of The Big Table, a day of community-driven conversation coordinated by The Columbus Foundation.
 
Convening neighbors at a time when collective understanding is vital, CAIR-Ohio hosted a dedicated table centered on the theme: “Let’s Talk About Our Rights: Belonging, Dignity, and Humanity.”
 
Unlike formal seminars or policy debates, the session deliberately stripped away speeches, structured panel discussions, and polarized arguments. Instead, it invited community members of diverse faiths, cultural traditions, and backgrounds to pull up a chair, sit face-to-face, and share lived experiences regarding identity, inclusion, and the foundational right to feel safe and valued in their own neighborhoods.
 
Many participants entered the room not knowing anyone present. By the conclusion of the dialogue, attendees walked away with fresh perspectives, shared vulnerabilities, and firsthand accounts of the challenges and strengths within Central Ohio’s multifaceted communities.
 
At its core, The Big Table is designed to spark open, intentional connections between neighbors who might not otherwise cross paths. For CAIR-Ohio, providing a platform where personal narratives intersect with civil rights and human dignity remains integral to building broader social cohesion.
 
 “True community resilience begins with honest conversation,” said Abdul Samad Amjad Director, Government & Community Engagement at CAIR-Ohio.
The discussions highlighted how closely civil liberties, religious identity, and social belonging are intertwined, emphasizing that safeguarding human dignity is a shared, cross-community responsibility across Ohio.
 
CAIR-Ohio extends its sincere gratitude to The Columbus Foundation for organizing and championing this initiative over the past decade, as well as to every resident who invested their time and vulnerability to participate in this year’s dialogue.
 
As polarizing rhetoric continues to challenge marginalized and minority communities, CAIR-Ohio remains committed to building bridges, advocating for constitutional rights, and fostering spaces where every Ohioan is treated with dignity and justice.
 
To learn more about CAIR-Ohio’s community engagement initiatives, educational workshops, or civil rights work, visit www.cair-ohio.com or contact info@cair-ohio.com.
 

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CONTACT: CAIR-Ohio Executive Director Khalid Turaani, 614-888-1111, KTuraani@cair.com; CAIR-Ohio Director of Community and Government Engagement Abdul Samad Amjad, 614-401-2920, aamjad@cair.com; CAIR-Ohio Regional Coordinator Tala Mohammad Ali, tali@cair.com
 
CAIR-Ohio, Central & Southern Region is the Ohio chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, working to protect civil liberties, build cross-community coalitions, and advocate for policies that uphold the dignity of Ohio’s Muslim, immigrant, and refugee communities.
 

CAIR-Ohio Condemns Neo-Nazi March in Springfield, Calls for Unity and Accountability

by Rita Puente in 2026, press release, Recent News, September
(COLUMBUS, OHIO, 9/28/2026) – The Central & Southern Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today condemned a recent demonstration in downtown Springfield, Ohio, during which masked individuals waved Nazi swastika flags.
 
SEE: Swastika flags flown by masked marchers in Springfield
 
In a statement, CAIR-Ohio Central & Southern Ohio Executive Director Khalid Turaani said:
“Displays of neo-Nazi ideology and open intimidation have no place in Springfield, nor anywhere in the state of Ohio. We unequivocally condemn this attempt to spread fear and division among our neighbors.
“We urge local leaders, law enforcement, and residents of all backgrounds to reject this hatred and stand together in defense of dignity, safety, and mutual respect for everyone who calls Ohio home.”
 
Turaani called on local officials and law enforcement to investigate the incident thoroughly and ensure that all necessary measures are taken to protect vulnerable communities.
 
He said Washington, D.C.-based CAIR stands in solidarity with all those challenging antisemitism, racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, white supremacy, and all other forms of bigotry.
 
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
 
END
 
CONTACT: Abdul Samad Amjad, Director of Community & Government Engagement, CAIR-Ohio Central & Southern Ohio, 614-401-2920, aamjad@cair.com; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@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
 

Rising Together for Justice: CAIR-Ohio Community Gathers at Annual Columbus Banquet Featuring Cenk Uygur

by Rita Puente in 2026, press release, Recent News, September
HILLIARD, OH (09/19/2026) — On Saturday, September 19, hundreds of community members, civic advocates, faith leaders, students, and families gathered at The Makoy Center in Hilliard for The 2026 CAIR-Ohio Columbus Banquet: Rising Together for Justice.
 
Framed around an enduring commitment to solidarity and collective resilience, the evening offered one night to honor four outstanding leaders from our own community, to sit with our neighbors, and to support the vital legal and advocacy work of CAIR-Ohio.
 
Each year, the Columbus Banquet serves as a vital gathering for those who understand what it takes to protect vulnerable neighbors and respond when families are targeted by discrimination, bigotry, or injustice. 
 
The evening’s keynote address was delivered by political commentator, author, and media host Cenk Uygur. Addressing an engaged audience, Uygur spoke on the critical importance of independent voices, grassroots civil rights organizing, and holding institutions accountable. His remarks resonated strongly with attendees, emphasizing the necessity of courageous civic participation and standing firm in defense of constitutional liberties, equal justice, and human dignity amid challenging political climates.
 
A central highlight of the banquet was recognizing leaders whose grassroots work, selflessness, and advocacy have carried the community through critical moments. CAIR-Ohio proudly honored:
  • Dr. Nimo Mohamed Abdi: Trailblazer award.
     
  • Abdikarin Mohamed: Emerging Leader Award.
     
  • Fadi Suleiman:Community Impact Award.
     
  • Our Helpers:  Dr. Dorothy Hassan, CEO of Our Helpers, with the Spirit of Service Award.
CAIR-Ohio extends its deepest gratitude to every guest, sponsor, donor, and volunteer whose dedication made this year’s gathering an inspiring success.
 
For those who were unable to attend or wish to continue supporting CAIR-Ohio’s year-round legal defense and advocacy work, tax-deductible contributions can be made securely online at www.cair-ohio.com/donate.
 

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CONTACT: CAIR-Ohio Executive Director Khalid Turaani, 614-888-1111, KTuraani@cair.com; CAIR-Ohio Director of Community and Government Engagement Abdul Samad Amjad, 614-401-2920, aamjad@cair.com; CAIR-Ohio Regional Coordinator Tala Mohammad Ali, tali@cair.com
 
CAIR-Ohio, Central & Southern Region is the Ohio chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, working to protect civil liberties, build cross-community coalitions, and advocate for policies that uphold the dignity of Ohio’s Muslim, immigrant, and refugee communities.
 

Action Alert: Tell Cameron Mitchell Restaurants to End Its Friends of the Israel Defense Forces Sponsorship

by Rita Puente in 2026, Recent News, September

(COLUMBUS, OH, 9/8/2026) – The Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio), the state’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on Ohioans to contact Cameron Mitchell Restaurants and urge the Columbus-based hospitality group to rescind its sponsorship of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces Ohio, an American organization that raises funds for soldiers of the Israeli military.

Urge Cameron Mitchell Restaurants to end its support for Friends of the Israel Defense Forces and to redirect that support to humanitarian relief in Gaza.

Friends of the Israel Defense Forces Ohio publicly recognized Cameron Mitchell Restaurants as a “Chief of Staff sponsor” of its Bourbon & Bubbles fundraiser, thanking the company for its “generosity and partnership” in making the event possible. The company has not responded to the community letter.

On September 1, CAIR-Ohio joined eight other Central Ohio organizations in signing an open community letter to Cameron Mitchell and the Cameron Mitchell Restaurants Operating Board, published by the Columbus Free Press.

Friends of the Israel Defense Forces raises American charitable dollars for the armed forces of a foreign state, including toward facilities on military bases, dozens of which are located illegally in the occupied West Bank. UNICEF reported that between October 7, 2023 and February 3, 2026, 71,803 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip, including at least 21,289 children.

The letter asks Cameron Mitchell Restaurants to take three steps:

  • Rescind support for Friends of the Israel Defense Forces Ohio and any other chapters of that organization.
  • Refrain from sponsoring, contributing to, or otherwise promoting the activities of that organization.
  • Donate to a charity providing medical or food relief to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

“We are not asking Cameron Mitchell Restaurants to take a position on a foreign conflict. We are asking it to stop funding one,” said CAIR-Ohio Executive Director Khalid Turaani.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

  1. Contact Cameron Mitchell Restaurants. Submit a message through the corporate contact form at cameronmitchell.com/contact-us. Keep it brief and civil. A sample message appears below.
  2. Spend your money elsewhere until the company acts. Central Ohio has hundreds of restaurants, including many Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim owned businesses.
  3. Share this alert with your family, your masjid, and your community organizations.

SAMPLE MESSAGE

Dear Cameron Mitchell and the Cameron Mitchell Restaurants Operating Board,

I am a Central Ohio resident and a customer of your restaurants. I was disappointed to learn that Cameron Mitchell Restaurants sponsored a fundraiser for Friends of the Israel Defense Forces Ohio and was publicly recognized as a Chief of Staff sponsor of that event.

That organization raises money for soldiers of a foreign military. The United Nations, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and Doctors Without Borders have all concluded that this military is carrying out a genocide in Gaza. I do not want my money going to a company that helps underwrite it.

I am asking you to rescind that support, to refrain from sponsoring or promoting those activities in the future, and to donate to an organization providing medical or food relief to Palestinians in Gaza.

Your company is known here for its commitment to this community and to children in particular. I am asking you to let that commitment mean the same thing for Palestinian children that it means for ours.

Until then, I will be spending my money elsewhere, and telling my family and friends why.

Sincerely, [Name], [City], Ohio

Please keep this campaign directed at the company and its Operating Board. Restaurant employees did not make this sponsorship decision. The independent vendors and small businesses and are not the target of this effort. Do not contact, confront, or blame restaurant workers or Budd Dairy tenants.

CONTACT: CAIR-Ohio Executive Director Khalid Turaani, (313) 888-1111, KTuraani@cair.com

CAIR-Ohio, 4985 Cemetery Road, Hilliard, Ohio 43026. info@cair-ohio.com | cair-ohio.com

CAIR-Ohio, Community Leaders to Hold Vigil for Pierre Damas Bel, Honor Student Who Died Amid Immigration Enforcement Ordeal

by Rita Puente in 2026, press release, Recent News, September

Later today, (September 2, at 6 p.m.) the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Ohio (CAIR-Ohio, Central & Southern Region), together with local organizations, faith leaders, and activists, will hold a community vigil at Columbus City Hall to honor Pierre Damas Bel, a 20-year-old Haitian immigrant and Wright State University student who died by suicide Monday. Attendees are asked to bring candles.

[NOTE: This release discusses a death by suicide connected to immigration enforcement. If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7. Call or text 988.]

Bel was an honor roll student at Springfield High School, a JROTC cadet, and a college soccer player. He came to the U.S. in 2024 through the CBP One program and settled in Springfield with his family. After losing Temporary Protected Status following a Supreme Court ruling, Bel was placed into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) “alternatives to detention” program in July and required to wear a GPS ankle monitor. He wrote publicly that the device left him carrying “shame and humiliation” he never imagined experiencing. His family says the resulting bullying and humiliation broke him.

Bel’s death follows the loss of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for roughly 300,000 Haitian nationals nationwide, including thousands in Springfield, where dozens have been detained in recent weeks. Advocates believe it is the first Springfield suicide connected to ICE.

“Pierre is dead because a policy stripped away his protection and threw his life into crisis,” said Khalid Turaani, Executive Director of CAIR-Ohio, in Columbus. “This wasn’t an accident of fate, it was the direct, expected result of an immigration system that has grown crueler by design, and a political climate that has made it acceptable to humiliate people like Pierre. Today it is Haitian families torn apart. As a Muslim civil rights organization, we know exactly how quickly it becomes someone else tomorrow, and it ends with anyone who dares to speak up. We are asking everyone in Columbus who believes in immigrant families’ dignity to stand with us Wednesday evening, grieve Pierre, and say clearly: we will not stay silent while our neighbors are humiliated and discarded. Silence is acquiescence. Show up. Speak up.”

The vigil is open to the public and press.

WHAT: Community Vigil for Pierre Damas Bel 

WHEN: Wednesday, September 2, 2026, 6:00 p.m. 

WHERE: Columbus City Hall, 90 West Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215 

CONTACT: Khalid Turaani, Executive Director, CAIR-Ohio, KTuraani@cair.com, (313) 888-1111

CAIR-Ohio, Central & Southern Region is the Ohio chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, working to protect civil liberties, build cross-community coalitions, and advocate for policies that uphold the dignity of Ohio’s Muslim, immigrant, and refugee communities.

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CAIR-Ohio Stands in Solidarity with Palestinian People, Calls for Immediate End to Atrocities in Occupied Territories

by CAIR Ohio in 2023, Recent News, September

(COLUMBUS, OH – 10/08/2023) — This deadly violence must stop. The only way to permanently stop the violence is to end the occupation. Hundreds of Palestinian civilians are killed every year and millions more men, women, and children are subject to systemic, racist oppression.

Since President Biden took office, human rights organizations warned that the administration’s refusal to hold the radical, far-right Israeli apartheid government accountable for its escalating human rights violations was emboldening more abuses. Yesterday, amid a government shutdown, President Biden approved $8 Billion in military aid to Israel from our tax dollars.

In just the past few years, the Israeli government has used American taxpayer dollars to blow up a local office of the Associated Press, murder a Palestinian-American journalist in broad daylight, leave a beaten and gagged elderly Palestinian-American for dead, expand illegal settlements, enable wanton settler violence, desecrate Al-Aqsa Mosque, and kill hundreds of Palestinian civilians, including many children.

Now the Israeli government is once again bombing Palestinian civilians in Gaza who have already spent 15 years living under an economic siege, cut off from their own people and the rest of the world. Indiscriminately bombing residential towers, ambulances and Palestinian civilians in Gaza only adds to the tragic loss of life and creates new barriers to a long-lasting solution. There is nowhere for Palestinian civilians to seek shelter.

If the international community offers the Palestinian people a true path to freedom, justice and a dignified life, peace and stability can inevitably follow.

The world cannot return to a status quo in which Israeli human rights abuses continually increase, Palestinian rights decrease, and Palestinian men, women, and children die without any public notice until a war breaks out.

We call on the United States to intervene to end this violence before more innocent people die, stop aiding and abetting the occupation, and start applying the values of universal human rights to all victims of oppression, no matter their nationality, religion, or skin color.

The occupation is driving the violence, and it is long past time for the United States to bring this violence to an end by demanding an end to the occupation. Only justice for all will once again allow everyone to peacefully coexist in a land that so many hold dear. 

Take Action:

Sunday, October 8, 2023 at 4:00 PM | Students for Justice in Palestine at OSU’s Rally at the Ohio Statehouse

Donate: 

LaunchGood: Standing strong with Palestine & Gaza 

Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund: Urgent Gaza Relief 

Pious Projects: Emergency Relief for Gaza

CAIR-Ohio Hosts Ieasha Prime for 26th Annual Columbus Banquet

by CAIR-OHIO in 2023, Recent News, September

(COLUMBUS, OHIO, 10/5/23) – On Sunday, September 22nd, CAIR-Ohio held its 26th Annual Columbus Banquet at the Ohio Union at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. 

The CAIR-Ohio annual banquet is an opportunity for staff to address hundreds of attendees including supporters, business leaders, elected officials, and representatives of mosques and community organizations to update them on the work CAIR-Ohio has accomplished in the past year. The theme this year was “Unified in Faith: Building Strength & Power.”  

Nearly 500 community members attended Sunday’s banquet with world-renowned scholar, Shaykha Ieasha Prime as the keynote. The evening’s motivational speaker was Dr. Altaf Husain, Vice President of Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research and Associate Professor at Howard University, and was emceed by local community leader, Alauddin Alauddin. 

The evening highlighted individuals who have made significant contributions through their community service with a “Community Empowerment Award.” The “Hero Award” was also presented to a group of students and is meant to recognize individuals who transformed a personal challenge into meaningful change for all Ohioans. More information on the awardees and their bios can be found here.   

Proclamations and commendations were submitted by several governmental agencies and elected officials including:  

  • Governor Mike DeWine 
  • Ohio Senate – 135th General Assembly 
  • Ohio House of Representatives – 135th General Assembly 
  • Hilliard City Council
  • Franklin County Board of Commissioners 

Photos will be shared on our Facebook | Instagram soon.   

Those who were not able to attend the banquet still can help us in protecting the civil rights of Ohio Muslims and strengthening our democracy by supporting CAIR-Ohio. Click here to donate. 

CAIR-Ohio Engages with OSU Global Leadership Initiative Students

by CAIR-OHIO in 2023, Recent News, September

(COLUMBUS, OH, 9/28/2023) — This week, CAIR-Ohio Outreach Director Victoria Hickcox, had the honor of attending a special dinner hosted by the Global Leadership Initiative (GLI), a program under the Office of International Affairs at The Ohio State University. 

The event, which took place at the prestigious OSU Faculty Club, brought together a diverse group of international and domestic students. The GLI program, known for its commitment to fostering cultural immersion and leadership development, plays a pivotal role in shaping global citizens within the campus and the broader Columbus community. 

Victoria Hickcox had the privilege of speaking with students at the dinner, where she shared insights into the vital work of CAIR-Ohio. She highlighted the organization’s dedication to promoting civil rights, combating Islamophobia, and uplifting the Muslim community. 

CAIR-Ohio Presents at Immigration Asylum Seminar

by CAIR-OHIO in 2023, Recent News, September

(COLUMBUS, OH, 9/21/2023) —On September 17, 2023, CAIR-Ohio Outreach Director Victoria Hickcox joined community members, leaders, and other organizations, at Jigjiga Mall for an Immigration Asylum Seminar, hosted by Rep. Mohamed (D3), to discuss CAIR-Ohio’s vital mission work and legal services. The seminar, attended by community members, legal professionals, and advocates, focused on connecting individuals facing challenges to seeking legal immigration status and asylum in the United States.

During her presentation, Hickcox highlighted the core mission of CAIR-Ohio, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to upholding civil rights, promoting justice, and combating discrimination. She underscored the critical role CAIR-Ohio plays in supporting immigrants and refugees, particularly in navigating complex immigration processes. Hickcox clarified that the immigration cases handled by the organization are primarily related to delays, often due to individuals being on government watchlists, or other instances of religious discrimination.  

The seminar featured attorneys and other staff from Community Refugee & Immigration Services (CRIS) and Columbus Legal Aid, who shared their expertise and insights on various aspects of immigration and asylum law. 

For more information about CAIR-Ohio and its work, please visit www.cair-ohio.com/what-we-do.