October
14

(CLEVELAND, OH, 10/14/08) – On Wednesday, October 15, the Akron University Muslim Student Association (MSA) will hold a panel discussion on the anti-Muslim film “Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West.” The panel is designed as a proactive response to a screening of the film being hosted later that evening by the College Republicans.

WHAT: Student Panel on the Film “Obsession”
WHEN: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 5 p.m.
WHERE: Student Union Auditorium, University of Akron

CONTACT: Julia A. Shearson, CAIR-Cleveland Executive Director, 216-830-2247 or 216-440-2247; events@cleveland.cair.com

Panel participants: Rev. Dr. Werner Lange, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania; Imam Musa Abdullah, Akron Mosque; Jason Zeigler, College Republicans; Julia A. Shearson, Council on American-Islamic Relations-Ohio; and a representative of the Akron University Law Department and Campus ACLU Chapter.

The Muslim Student Association (MSA) is a volunteer organization run by Muslim students on campus. The main purpose of the MSA is to raise awareness of Islam on campus and to provide related services and activities for both Muslim and non-Muslim students.

The event is free and open to the public.

June
11

(CLEVELAND, OH, 6/11/08) – The Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland) recently gave a presentation at the Ohio Attorney General’s 2008 Conference on Victim Assistance, held in Akron, Ohio, on how to prevent and respond to domestic violence in the Muslim community.

The statewide conference aims to provide training for those who assist victims in the aftermath of crime. CAIR’s training, which was part of a session entitled “Domestic Violence in Immigrant Homes,” offered tools and suggestions for helping victims and witness advocates optimize services for Muslim women.

The presentation covered issues such as the impact of family violence on the Muslim community, challenges and barriers for advocates and victims, resources for combating domestic violence in Muslim communities, marriage and gender roles in Islam, the role of religious texts, and Islamic perspectives on healthy relationships.

“Violence in the home is a serious public health and law enforcement problem that cuts across all demographic lines,” said CAIR-Cleveland Executive Director Julia Shearson, who gave the presentation. “The goal of our training is to break down barriers to effective treatment and prevention by offering law enforcement and social workers the tools to provide culturally aligned approaches to help stop domestic violence in diverse communities.”

CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. CAIR’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

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CONTACT: CAIR-Cleveland Executive Director Julia A. Shearson, Tel: 216.830.2247 or 216.440.2247, E-Mail: jshearson@cair.com; Isam Zaiem, 216.337.7928, E-mail: isamz@sbcglobal.net.

May
22

(CLEVELAND, OH, 5/22/08) – The Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland) recently offered training for nurse case managers at Medical Mutual Company, Ohio’s oldest and largest health insurance provider, which is headquartered in Cleveland.

The training, entitled “Optimizing Care for Muslim Patients and Clients,” offered information on what health care providers should know about Islam and Muslims, including basic beliefs and practices and tools and suggestions for interacting with Muslim patients and clients. The training offered an Islamic perspective on health and illness and covered topics such as patient-provider communication, modesty in the clinical setting, diet and hygiene, and end-of-life issues.

“The goal of our training is to provide information and effective tools to help healthcare providers meet the needs of Muslim patients,” said CAIR-Cleveland Executive Director Julia Shearson. “A holistic health assessment takes into account cultural and religious beliefs, and by delivering culturally competent medical care, providers can help bring about the best possible health outcomes.”

CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. CAIR’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: Julia A. Shearson, 216.830.2247 or 216.440.2247, E-Mail: events@cleveland.cair.com; Isam Zaiem, 216.337.7928, E-mail: isamz@sbcglobal.net

May
21

(CLEVELAND, OH, 5/21/08) – The Cleveland Chapter of CAIR-Ohio provided training on Optimizing Care for Muslim Patients and Clients at the May 20 annual meeting of the Women and Children’s Health Consortium held at Lorain County Community College. The Consortium is comprised of public health officials from Lorain County Health Commission, the health commissions of the cities of Elyria and Lorain, members of Lorain County Job and Family Services and others health care providers.

The seminar, entitled “Are We Making Progress? Are We Culturally Relevant”, focused on assessing progress in maternal and child health in Lorain County. The guest presenters were Dr. Jeffrey Lange of the Public Service Institute of Lorain County Community College and Julia A. Shearson, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Cleveland Chapter.

CONTACT: Julia A. Shearson, 216.830.2247 or 216.440.2247, E-Mail: jshearson@cair.com; Isam Zaiem, 216.337.7928, E-mail: isamz@sbcglobal.net. Read More

November
9

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 11/9/2007) – On Tuesday, November 13, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will hold a noon news conference in the nation’s capital to announce the launch of a major initiative to help enhance understanding of Islam and Muslims in the news media.

Similar news conferences will be held at CAIR offices in Princeton, N.J.; San Diego, Calif.; Cleveland and Cincinnati, Ohio; Tampa, Fla.; and Dallas, Texas. To contact a CAIR chapter, click here.

The centerpiece of CAIR’s educational campaign will be distribution of the newly-published “American Muslims: A Journalist’s Guide to Understanding of Islam and Muslims” to some 40,000 media professionals nationwide.

Other aspects of CAIR’s educational initiative will be outlined at the news conferences.

WHAT: Launch of CAIR’s News Media Education Campaign
WHEN: Tuesday, November 13, Noon (Eastern)
WHERE: National Press Club, Lisagor Room, 529 14th Street N.W., Washington, D.C.
CONTACT: CAIR Communications Coordinator Rabiah Ahmed, 202.488.8787 or 202.439.1441, E-Mail: rahmed@cair.com

“It is essential that all those who write about or comment on domestic and international events have access to accurate, balanced information about Islam and Muslims,” said CAIR Chief Operating Officer/Deputy Director Tahra Goraya. “Because Muslims have a duty to provide that information, we will be calling on the Islamic community to support this important initiative.”

CAIR, America’s largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 33 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202.488.8787 or 202.744.7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Rabiah Ahmed, 202.488.8787 or 202.439.1441, E-Mail: rahmed@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202.488.8787, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

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September
4

(CLEVELAND, OH, 9/4/07) – On Saturday, September 15, the Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OHIO) will host its 4th Annual “Sharing Ramadan” Iftar Banquet with members of the interfaith community. (“Iftar” is the meal eaten after sunset each day during Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting.)

WHEN: Saturday, September 15, 2007
TIME: Registration – 6:30-7:30 p.m., Program begins at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Joseph Cole Center, Cleveland State University, 3100 Chester Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio
CONTACT: CAIR-Cleveland Executive Director Julia A. Shearson, 216.830.2247 or 216.440.2247; E-Mail: jshearson@cair.com

Award-winning author and former diplomat Michael Hamilton Morgan will speak about his new book, “Lost History: the Enduring Legacy of Muslim Scientists, Thinkers, and Artists,” published by National Geographic.

The evening will include a Middle Eastern dinner and entertainment and crafts for children. The event is free and open to the public. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 216-830-2247.

“The month of Ramadan is a time of spiritual renewal and charitable giving,” said Isam Zaiem, president of the Cleveland Chapter of CAIR-OHIO. “This event is a wonderful chance for Americans of all faiths to build interfaith harmony and mutual understanding.

CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties group, is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has 33 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. CAIR’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

 

July
20

Cleveland Muslims to Join WCPN 90.3 Ideastream “The Sound of Ideas” Program

(CLEVELAND, OH, 7/20/2007) – On Monday, July 23 members of the Muslim community in Cleveland will join Ideastream’s “The Sound of Ideas,” a one-hour call-in news radio program. The program airs live each weekday from 9:00 to 10:00 AM. Monday’s program will feature local Muslim community members discussing what it means to be a Muslim in America in the wake of 9/11. Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin, CAIR-Ohio President, will join the program from the Statehouse News Bureau studios in Columbus to offer a Muslim physician’s perspective on the recent terrorist plots in Great Britain. Area Muslims are urged to listen and call in to WCPN 90.3 FM (216) 578-0903 or e-mail your questions to news@wcpn.org.

For more information contact the CAIR office 216.830.2247.

February
5

(CLEVELAND, OH, 2/5/07) – Representatives of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Cleveland Chapter met recently with C. Frank Figliuzzi, the new Special Agent in Charge of the Cleveland district office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other top officials from the Bureau’s civil rights and anti-terrorism divisions.

The meeting covered a range of issues including preventing hate crimes, overcoming barriers to reporting hate crimes and color-of-law civil rights violations, formulation of a crisis-response communications protocol, and establishing community leadership meetings, town hall forums and other trust-building measures.

CAIR, America’s largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 32 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice
and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: Julia A. Shearson, 216.830.2247 or 216.440.2247, E-Mail: jshearson@cair.com; Isam Zaiem, 216.337.7928, E-Mail: isamz@sbcglobal.net

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January
25

(CLEVELAND, OH, 1/25/07) – Representatives of the Cleveland Chapter of CAIR-OHIO joined a live discussion of the TV series “24” on the “Bob Franz” morning radio talk show on ClearChannel’s WTAM 1100. The show’s topic was the portrayal of Muslims on FOX’s “24.”  CAIR-OHIO challenged the radio host’s premise that the images of Muslims on 24 did not have a negative impact on American perceptions of their Muslim neighbors.

Before CAIR joined the show on air, the host challenged listeners to call in and explain why they are afraid to live next door to Muslims. CAIR officials protested the call-in challenge as incitement. During the 3-hour show, CAIR defended Islam and Muslims and CAIR’s record of promoting peace and justice.

To listen to or download the show go to http://www.wtam.com/cc-common/podcast/single_podcast.html?podcast=BobFrantz.xml Click on the show dated 1-23-07

Hour 1 “Is the tv show 24 making Muslims look bad?; Hours 2 & 3 Members of CAIR join Bob Franz.