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.
Thank you for your words of support -
Faith in Public Life
Rev. Dr. Jack Sullivan, Jr., Ohio Council of Churches:
“During this time of profound shock and sadness within the offices and networks of the Ohio Chapter of the Council on American and Islamic Relations (CAIR), the Ohio Council of Churches offers its prayerful support for the staff and mission of CAIR-Ohio. As an interfaith partner for justice, peace, and human flourishing, we stand in unflinching solidarity with CAIR in its great and impactful work to protect civil rights, fight bigotry, and promote tolerance. To our dear sisters and brothers with CAIR: You are not alone! We are with you!”
Dr. Tarunjit Butalia, Religions for Peace USA:
“We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Muslim brothers and sisters as they cope with the betrayal of trust by one of their own.”
Rev. Dr. Tim Ahrens, First Congregational Church, Columbus:
“We stand with our friends in the Muslim community as they face all the emotions and reactions surrounding the betrayal of one of their leaders. Betrayal of trust is horrible especially when it is grounded in religious community. As they go through all the emotions, anger, grief related to this moment, we are with them. We will not leave their side.”
Rev. David Long-Higgins, Heartland Conference, United Church of Christ:
“My heart was broken when I learned of the betrayal of CAIR by its former Executive Director. As a Christian, I treasure our Islamic siblings and the important presence of peace they have promoted in our community. I have personally been blessed by the presence of CAIR and its mission to build understanding and goodwill in a world often bent toward caricature, misunderstanding, and division.”
Karen Dawson, PhD, Interfaith Association of Central Ohio:
“I send my caring concern to our Muslim brothers and sisters in Ohio in this time of sadness and turmoil.”
Pastor Hank Osmundson, M.Div., Unitarian Universalist Justice Ohio:
“Unitarian Universalist Justice Ohio reaffirms our solidarity with and support of our siblings in the Ohio Muslim community. As they experience an array of emotions, questions, and pain in the wake of this news, we will continue to support them. Always.”
Rev. Dan Clark, Faith in Public Life Ohio:
“Our friends and colleagues at CAIR Ohio, as well as Muslims around the state, are facing a shocking breach of trust. We pray for their safety as well as reaffirm our care for and solidarity with them. People of all faiths need one another in these trying times, as we gather together around our shared ethic of love.”
City of Hilliard, Ohio
“Hilliard City Council and the City Staff value our relationship with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the many members of the Muslim faith who call this community home.
The City will remain committed to supporting the CAIR-Ohio staff and our friends of the Muslim community as CAIR continues to work alongside its national organization and law enforcement to investigate the alleged incidents involving its former Executive and Legal Director.
It may be some time before all the facts pertaining to this investigation come to light. During that time, we will work not only to help ensure their safety, but to guarantee they continue to know they are a welcome and vital part of our Hilliard community.”
ACLU of Ohio
“Sending love, support, and solidarity to the staff and board at @CAIROhio and all Muslim communities across Ohio during this difficult time.”
Muslim Students’ Association at The Ohio State University, along with student organizations across the region
“We must stand with CAIR-Ohio to demonstrate our tenacity in fighting against the ongoing efforts to undermine Muslim organizations. We pledge our support for the values and ideals that CAIR-Ohio represents and strives for by signing this solidarity pact. May Allah shield and defend CAIR-Ohio’s hardworking staff, our community, and Muslim communities worldwide.”
Islamic Center of Greater Toledo
“Anti-Muslim hate and racism have always existed. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated event of informants seeking to infiltrate our community for nefarious agendas and will likely not be the last. We applaud the accountability measures of CAIR-Ohio and commend their transparency with the community. Evermore, we stand unified against hate in all its forms and committed to ensuring our community—and all other communities in our city—is safe from treacherous individuals and hate groups seeking to harm and divide us.”
Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati
“We at the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati community are shocked, upset, and concerned about this betrayal.
CAIR is an independent organization that strives to uphold American Muslim Civil Liberties and has worked with ICGC over the years in collaborative programs. They do important and necessary work on behalf of Muslim Americans.
Hate and deception undermine so much of our collective work. It is unacceptable where this hate or deception stems from. For anybody or any entity to promote it and undermine another community, in this case, our Muslim American community, is unacceptable and should be held fully accountable.”
Ohio Organizing Collaborative
Molly Shack & Prentiss Haney, Co-Executive Directors, Ohio Organizing Collaborative:
“The Ohio Chapter of CAIR – The Council on American-Islamic Relations is the largest Muslim civil liberties organization in our state. Their mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
The OOC has worked alongside the incredibly talented team at CAIR-Ohio and have experienced the power of being in coalition with them to fight across race, place, and faith to win on issues that impact all of our communities.
The OOC team is heartbroken to hear the devastating announcement of the betrayal of their former executive director working for years in service of anti-Muslim hate groups.
We send our love, solidarity and support to the CAIR-Ohio team and the entire Muslim community in Ohio impacted by this news. We have unwavering confidence in the incoming acting director and will continue to work and serve alongside our Muslim brothers and sisters at CAIR-Ohio through this difficult time.”
All On the Line Ohio
“We stand in solidarity with our partners at @CAIROhio and the incredible women who are now leading the organization during an immeasurably difficult juncture.
We are also holding in our hearts those in Ohio’s Muslim communities who are impacted and whose safety was put at risk.”
Equality Labs
“Equality Labs shares our solidarity and stands with @CAIRNational and @CAIROhio around the recent revelations of infiltration into its network. This is the worst caste scenario that many Muslim and South Asian groups have been warning about for years.”
