OP-ED | Ohio Take Note: Fairness Is a Universal Value

by Fadila Gitosuputro in 2021, December, Recent News

By: Tala Dahbour, CAIR-Ohio Policy Director

Muslim Americans have made great strides in the last decade in reaching local, state, and federal halls of power. In the face of rampant anti-Muslim sentiment following 9/11 and blatantly discriminatory executive orders of the Trump administration, Muslims across the country have organized to combat racial and religious discrimination. Nonetheless, in Ohio, severely gerrymandered maps drawn at the expense of Muslim communities threaten to perpetuate the political exclusion of Muslim voices.  Read More “OP-ED | Ohio Take Note: Fairness Is a Universal Value” →

CAIR-Ohio Denounces Congressional Districts Approved by Gov. DeWine

by Fadila Gitosuputro in 2021, November, Recent News

CAIR-Ohio denounces congressional districts approved by Gov. DeWine over the weekend.

The approved map does not reflect Ohio voting preferences (55% republican, 45% democrat) and overwhelmingly favors one political party. This map and process to stifle citizen voices fail to uphold the essence of bipartisan reforms Ohioans voted for in 2018. The map cracks apart communities of color, dividing our neighborhoods and pulling together parts of the state that don’t belong in the same districts.

Ohio Muslims and all Ohioans deserve better and we will continue to fight for fair maps and to bring an end to gerrymandering in Ohio.

Redistricting resources and information can be found here.

For questions, contact CAIR-Ohio Community Affairs Director Whitney Siddiqi: wsiddiqi@cair.com | 513-281-8200

Redistricting Update: CAIR-Ohio Responds to Gerrymandered Congressional Maps

by Fadila Gitosuputro in 2021, November, Recent News

(COLUMBUS, OHIO 11/17/2021) — On Friday, Nov. 12, the Ohio Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) joined other organizations of the Equal Districts Coalition at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. 

Amina Barhumi, CAIR-Ohio’s Outreach Director and a member of the Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission, testified before a joint committee in opposition to the proposed Senate map in Senate Bill 258.  Read More “Redistricting Update: CAIR-Ohio Responds to Gerrymandered Congressional Maps” →

CAIR-Ohio Testifies Before the Ohio House & Senate Following the Proposal of Congressional Maps

by Fadila Gitosuputro in 2021, November, Recent News

(COLUMBUS, OHIO 11/10/2021) – On Thursday, November 4, the Ohio Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) provided testimony on proposed maps in public hearings at the Ohio Statehouse. Read More “CAIR-Ohio Testifies Before the Ohio House & Senate Following the Proposal of Congressional Maps” →

CAIR-Ohio Joins Fair Districts Rally at Statehouse!

by Fadila Gitosuputro in 2021, November, Recent News

(COLUMBUS, OHIO 11/03/2021) — On Thursday, October 28, the Ohio Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) joined other organizations of the Fair Districts Coalition at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio.

Tala Dahbour, CAIR-Ohio’s Policy Director was in attendance and addressed the attendees of the rally.

“The suppression of political power is especially harmful for communities who are racial and religious minorities and experience institutional discrimination at a higher rate than others. But fair districts return power to the people. That’s why, even though our state legislative maps are unfair and unconstitutional, we won’t give up this fight”, said Dahbour.

For more information and updates from Fair Districts Ohio, click here.

Additional redistricting resources and information can be found here.

For questions, contact CAIR-Ohio Community Affairs Director Whitney Siddiqi: wsiddiqi@cair.com | 513-281-8200

CAIR-Ohio Joins Redistricting Rally Outside Ohio Statehouse

by Fadila Gitosuputro in 2021, October, Recent News

(COLUMBUS, OHIO 10/22/2021) — On Wednesday, October 20th, 2021, the Ohio Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) joined its Equal Districts Coalition partners at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio, for a People’s Redistricting Hearing and Rally. At the rally, fair maps advocates and community members responded to the Ohio Redistricting Commission’s disregard for their constituents’ need for fair maps and their constitutional requirements to do so.

Members of the CAIR-Ohio outreach and legal teams were present while CAIR-Ohio Community Affairs Director Whitney Siddiqi and other organizers gave remarks.

“We’re here to demand that every vote – especially those of marginalized communities like the Muslim community – have equal voting power through fair districts. We can only achieve that through a fair process. Today, we’re calling on the Ohio Redistricting Commission to release a proposed map and schedule hearings that are accessible to all Ohioans. It’s long past time to get to work,” said Siddiqi. Read More “CAIR-Ohio Joins Redistricting Rally Outside Ohio Statehouse” →

People’s Redistricting Hearing + Rally

by Fadila Gitosuputro in 2021, October, Recent News, Take Action

Redistricting Action Alert: With no progress made on congressional maps, it’s time to demand action.

Please join CAIR-Ohio and our coalition partners in making our voices heard at the Ohio Statehouse this Wednesday, October 20, 2021 from 2:30-3:30 for a People’s Hearing to demand:

  1. Public hearings with plenty of notice & virtual options.

  2. An official Commission-proposed map that we can respond to.

  3. A fair map that reflects our partisanship, keeps our communities together, and gives Ohio’s communities of color a real pathway to representation.


Click here for more information on Wednesday’s event.

Can’t make it on Wednesday? Virtual hearings will also be held for different state regions throughout next week. Click here for more information.

If you have any questions please contact CAIR-Ohio Policy Director Tala Dahbour at tdahbour@cair.com or (614) 401-2920.

Redistricting 101: Congressional Update

by Fadila Gitosuputro in 2021, October, Recent News

The fight for fair congressional districts is on in Ohio. The way our congressional districts are drawn directly impacts the voting power of the Muslim community and the next decade of U.S. politics.

CAIR-Ohio is working to ensure Ohio Muslim communities are not left out, split up, or ignored. But we need YOU to get involved and make your voice heard!

Although the Ohio Redistricting Commission has yet to meet on or propose a congressional map (disappointing but not surprising), deadlines are approaching and we need to be ready to mobilize. Click here for the full infographic.

OP-ED: State legislative maps fail us, but the fight for fair congressional districts is on

by Fadila Gitosuputro in 2021, Recent News, September

It’s no secret that Ohio is one of the most gerrymandered states in the nation. In 2018, Ohio voters said enough is enough and overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment on redistricting reform. The changes were to be delivered through the 2021 redistricting cycle by way of a fair and transparent redistricting process facilitated by the Ohio Redistricting Commission. Read More “OP-ED: State legislative maps fail us, but the fight for fair congressional districts is on” →

CAIR-Ohio, Partners Sue Ohio Redistricting Commission Over Unconstitutional Maps

by Fadila Gitosuputro in 2021, Recent News, September

(COLUMBUS, OH 09/27/2021) – The Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio), along with coalition partners, today filed a lawsuit in the Ohio Supreme Court against the Ohio Redistricting Commission and various state officials over the unconstitutional partisan gerrymander of the General Assembly passed on party lines by the Ohio Redistricting Commission. Read More “CAIR-Ohio, Partners Sue Ohio Redistricting Commission Over Unconstitutional Maps” →