(CLEVELAND, OH 6/26/25)- COLUMBUS, OH – June 26, 2025 – On Tuesday, June 24th, 2025, CAIR- Ohio joined The Ohio Chinese American Council (OHCAC), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other multiple advocacy organizations, community members, and land justice advocates at the Ohio Statehouse to rally in opposition to the discriminatory statue of House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 88. These bills, threaten to undermine local control over property lines and land use, have raised widespread concern among civil rights, immigrants, and faith-based groups across the state.

CAIR-Ohio opposed HB 1 and SB 88 claiming it will create a racist impact on historically marginalized communities, including Muslim, immigrant, and refugee populations who have long faced discriminatory zoning practices and displacement. This is textbook racial profiling against hardworking Ohioans which the state is built on.

Full text of Senate Bill 88 and House Bill 1 Ohio Property Protection Act: SB88“, HB1

During the rally, CAIR-Ohio Executive Director, Faten Odeh, said – “Being silent, being quiet and trying to be out of the way, doesn’t get us anywhere, it is time that we make noise and make noise together.”

Watch CAIR-Ohio Speech Here

The rally featured speakers from multiple grassroots coalitions and impacted Ohioans who urged lawmakers to understand the violation of human rights this bill introduces, and urged community members to speak up and call their representatives to vote NO on HB 1 and SB88.

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, 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.
Become a Fan of the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio on Facebook
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CONTACT: CAIR-OH Executive Director, Cleveland & Northern Ohio, Faten Odeh (216) 440-2247, fodeh@cair.com

(CLEVELAND, OH – 5/30/25) – On Wednesday, May 28, 2025, hundreds of community members from across Ohio welcomed Mehdi Hasan at the City Club of Cleveland.

The forum was titled, The Mehdi Hasan Unfiltered: A Conversation on Politics, Media, and the State of Democracy and was brought to the community by The Siddiq Forum on the Islamic World

Mehdi Hasan, Editor-in-chief and CEO of Zeteo, spoke about important topics such as why he decided to leave MSNBC and start his own media company. He also spoke about how viewers can find the truth in journalism, along with topics such as how the media spreads misinformation about the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Moderating the forum was News 5 reporter, Nadeen Abusada, who covers stories on Brook Park, immigration and the Middle Eastern communities. During the discussion they spoke about unfiltered journalism, and the importance of having media that represents the truth.

Additionally, during the forum Abusada opened the floor for attendees and livestream viewers to ask Hasan more questions.

Mehdi Hasan stated, “You want to talk about what shocked me, why I think it’s been such a media failure is because we’ve been able to see in real time the double standard. For years people like me would say there are double standards. We cover this conflict in a way we don’t cover that conflict. We apply this rule here, not there. In this Gaza situation we’ve seen it in real time because there’s a place called Ukraine.”

CAIR-Ohio Executive Director, Faten Odeh, stated, “It has been a real delight to see speakers at the City Club that resonate with the Muslim community. We are grateful to the Siddiq Forum on the Islamic World for bringing such a dynamic speaker to such an important free speech forum.”

Mehdi Hasan Unfiltered | The City Club of Cleveland | May 28, 2025

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, 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.
Become a Fan of the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/CAIRCleveland
Subscribe to the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio’s Twitter Feed
Tweets by CAIRCleveland
Subscribe to the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio’s YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@caircleveland
Follow the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/cairohiocleveland/

CONTACT: CAIR-OH Executive Director, Cleveland & Northern Ohio, Faten Odeh (216) 440-2247, fodeh@cair.com

By: Malaak Sulieman

(CLEVELAND, OH – 5/29/25) – On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in response to the recent attacks held against immigrant workers by the ICE raids, the criminalization of free speech, and the weaponization of immigration status, Neoworker Center hosted a solidarity session with CAIR-Ohio Executive Director-Faten Odeh, along with Director of Major Gifts, National Domestic Workers Alliance-Larisse Mondok, and Ohio Worker Center organizer- Ricardo Morales Vivero at Happy Dog in order to examine how federal attacks are being used to divide workforces. Along with teaching about how immigrant workers and allies are fighting back and resisting these attacks.

During the session Odeh spoke about the effects of how these attacks have contributed to a climate of fear and vulnerability among Muslim and immigrant communities in the workplace.

“To take our right to free speech is difficult for the government to do…so they are using immigrants as examples, to silence us, to make us feel the fear…we are telling citizens they need to step up and keep on exercising our free speech. If we stop exercising our rights, we’re not going to have any.”

Mondok spoke about his position at the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and some of the most significant national trends that she is seeing in terms of renewed attacks or pressures on immigrant workers, particularly those in domestic work.

Northeast Ohio Worker Center | Supporting Workers Rights in Ohio

Vivero explained why operating at the intersection of labor and immigration is so important and what role community organizations play in helping workers fight back along with what more could be done to support these efforts.

“A lot of workers can be surprisingly brave when it comes to risk-taking and that makes sense when you understand this motives for coming here [United States].”- Ricardo Morales Vivero

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, 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.
Become a Fan of the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/CAIRCleveland
Subscribe to the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio’s Twitter Feed
Tweets by CAIRCleveland
Subscribe to the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio’s YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@caircleveland
Follow the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/cairohiocleveland/

CONTACT: CAIR-OH Executive Director, Cleveland & Northern Ohio, Faten Odeh (216) 440-2247, fodeh@cair.com

By: Malaak Sulieman

(CLEVELAND, OH – 05/27/2025) – On Friday, May 23rd, 2025, in response to the aid blockade, imposed by Israel since March 2nd, 2025. CAIR-Ohio, Doctors Against Genocide, Veterans for Peace, Jewish Voice for Peace, Cleveland Peace Action and others hosted an emergency press conference in Cleveland to bring awareness to the ongoing blockade as situations in Gaza continue to worsen. According to the Ministry of Health, there have been 57 children reported dead due to malnutrition since the blockade began on March 2nd.

During the press conference, CAIR-Ohio leadership, including Jenna Muhieddine, alongside Doctors Against Genocide Member Dr .Ahmad Jadallah, and more such as Basma Karaja and a US army veteran Louis Pumphrey, expressed their concerns and explained the effects of this ongoing blockade. Furthermore, in order to describe the results of the blockade Dr. Jadallah recounted the details included in the genocide UN health report, which gave a deeper understanding of the devastating outcomes that ensue from this blockade.

Doctors Against Genocide, Dr. Ahmad Jadallah statement-“What is happening there is affecting our healthcare here as the billions spent destroying lives there could be used to provide local healthcare dollars here. Also, I have spoken to a lot of community members here whose mental health has suffered as a result of this genocide and the frustration their concerns are not being addressed. This is not good for the Palestinian American community or those around them.”

Watch Doctor Ahmad J.’s Speech

CAIR-Ohio’s Engagement Coordinator, Jenna Muhieddine, stated, “Let’s stop softening the language. What’s happening in Gaza is not just a crisis. It is mass starvation by design. This is famine as a weapon of war. This is the purposeful denial of food, water, and medicine to over 2 million people—half of them children. And this is being done with American weapons, with Western complicity, and with global silence.”

Watch Jenna M.’s Speech Here

Doctor’s Against Genocide UN Report

Moms and Grandma’s against Genocide, Basma Karaja, stated, “Mothers in Gaza carry their children twice. Once when they give them their life, and are born, and once when their lives are taken away.”

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, 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.
Become a Fan of the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/CAIRCleveland
Subscribe to the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio’s Twitter Feed
Tweets by CAIRCleveland
Subscribe to the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio’s YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@caircleveland
Follow the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/cairohiocleveland/

END

CONTACT: CAIR-OH Executive Director, Cleveland & Northern Ohio, Faten Odeh
(216) 440-2247, fodeh@cair.com

CLEVELAND, OH – 5/19/25 – On May 17, CAIR-Ohio participated in the 2025 Cleveland Marathon, joining over 11,000 runners in a citywide celebration of health, resilience, and community. For the second year in a row, CAIR-Ohio sponsored Team Palestine, a powerful initiative aimed at raising awareness and funds for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), an organization providing life-saving medical care and humanitarian relief to Palestinian children.

CAIR-Ohio’s Executive Director, Faten Husni Odeh, crossed the finish line side-by-side with Estelle Raskin, a member of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) Cleveland. Team Palestine was represented by a diverse and passionate group of runners who not only completed the race but also helped raise funds and awareness for Palestinian children in need.

Jenna Muhieddine, Civic Engagement Coordinator at CAIR-Ohio Cleveland, said: “What a privilege to run in safety, while others run for survival. #FreePalestine.”

Through physical endurance and collective action, Team Palestine reminded marathon spectators and fellow runners that advocacy can take many forms—from the streets to the finish line.

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, 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.

Become a Fan of the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/CAIRCleveland
Subscribe to the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio’s YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@caircleveland
Follow the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/cairohiocleveland/

END

CONTACT: CAIR-OH Executive Director, Cleveland & Northern Ohio, Faten Odeh
(216) 440-2247, fodeh@cair.com

CLEVELAND, OH – 5/6/25 – On May 1st, CAIR-Ohio, in partnership with the Cleveland Palestine Advocacy Community (CPAC), held the final session of the Racial Justice & Equity Training workshop series for the SWANA & Black Muslim community at First Cleveland Masjid. This workshop series, a crucial initiative aimed at fostering greater understanding of race, power, privilege, and oppression within the Cleveland Muslim community, included three impactful sessions.

The first session, held at Beit Hanina Community Center (BHCC) on April 3rd, and was facilitated by Imam Abderhaman Justin Wood. The second session, hosted at Urban Community School on April 10th, featured a panel discussion with Faten Husni Odeh, Executive Director of CAIR-Ohio; Aisha Samad, President of CAIR-Ohio Cleveland & Northern Ohio Chapter; and Ali Reza, Esq., from the Case Western Reserve University Social Justice Institute. The final session, held on May 1st, was facilitated by Joe Black, from the Cleveland Foundation.

More than 20 participants, including local officials from Cuyahoga County, completed the series and were awarded certificates for their participation. The series aimed to strengthen community bonds, tackle issues of racial justice, and deepen the understanding of intersections between race and religion in the Muslim community.

Faten Odeh, Executive Director of CAIR-Ohio, shared “Early on in my career at CAIR-Ohio, uniting the Cleveland Muslim community had been a major goal of mine. We’ve often been divided by culture, proximity, and various challenges, but initiatives like this show us that we are stronger together. We hope that this workshop series is just the beginning of many efforts that bring us closer, inshaAllah.”

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, 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.

Become a Fan of the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/CAIRCleveland
Subscribe to the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio’s YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@caircleveland
Follow the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/cairohiocleveland/

CONTACT: CAIR-OH Executive Director, Cleveland & Northern Ohio, Faten Odeh (216) 440-2247, fodeh@cair.com

CLEVELAND, OH – 3/5/25 – On April 28-29, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), in collaboration with the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), attended the 10th Annual National Muslim Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., with the theme “Defending Rights, Shaping Policy.” This year, CAIR-Ohio lead a Cleveland and Northern Ohio delegation joining hundreds from across the nation. The delegation was represented by Executive Director Faten Husni Odeh, along with staff members Gia Hamed and Jenna Muhieddine, and community members Selma Babiker and Misky Shaeye.

During the event, the delegation met with congressional offices to advocate for critical issues affecting Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian communities in the United States. Key areas of focus included protecting free speech and nonprofit advocacy rights amid growing legislative threats and McCarthy-style investigations, opposing discriminatory travel bans, and urging U.S. action to end genocide and human rights abuses in Gaza, Sudan, China (Xinjiang), and Burma (Myanmar). Additionally, the team called for support of key Muslim community legislation and emphasized the importance of empowering marginalized groups through policy reforms.

“I’m incredibly proud of our team for their dedication and powerful advocacy during Muslim Hill days,” said Faten Husni Odeh, Executive Director of CAIR-Ohio. “Our work on Capitol Hill is vital in raising awareness about the challenges our community faces. It’s essential that we continue to stand together and urge lawmakers to take action, creating a future where all communities are treated with dignity and respect.”

The CAIR-Ohio team, including Hamed, Muhieddine, Babiker, and Shaeye, engaged in thoughtful conversations with elected officials, sharing personal stories and providing insights into the urgent need for action on these issues.

“This experience reiterated the importance of engaging with our representatives. They have a duty to represent the interests of the people they represent and it’s our duty as Muslim American citizens to ensure our voices are heard ,” said Selma Babiker, community member and participant. “We are thankful for the opportunity to advocate for our rights and to urge Congress to take meaningful action on behalf of those who are suffering due to discriminatory policies and human rights violations.”

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, 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.

Become a Fan of the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/CAIRCleveland

Subscribe to the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio’s YouTube Channel

https://www.youtube.com/@caircleveland

Follow the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/cairohiocleveland/

CONTACT: CAIR-OH Executive Director, Cleveland & Northern Ohio, Faten Odeh (216) 440-2247, fodeh@cair.com

(CLEVELAND, OH – 4/7/25) – On April 3, CAIR-Ohio, along with the Cleveland Palestine Advocacy Community (CPAC) hosted the first workshop of a three-part SWANA and Black Racial Justice & Equity Training workshop series at Beit Hanina Cultural Center (BHCC).

The workshop was facilitated by Imam Abudlrahman Justin Wood, an American Imam, Speaker, and Leader born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He accepted Islam at age 17 after studying the life of Malcolm X and researching religion and philosophy. To gain a deeper understanding of Arabic and Islamic sciences, he traveled to Makkah, Saudi Arabia and completed an American Imam certificate course. Upon returning to the United States, he focused on helping young American Muslims embrace the relevance and practicality of Islam, establishing and supporting youth initiatives in multiple communities. He also serves as Ameer of AlMaghrib’s Columbus, Ohio.

The primary goal of the workshop series is to deepen understanding of the intersections of race, power, privilege, supremacy, and oppression in the Cleveland Muslim community. Through this three-part workshop, CAIR-Ohio’s Cleveland Chapter and the Cleveland Palestine Advocacy Community will bring guest speakers and educators to explore what it means to be one Ummah and how understanding power, privilege, and difference can bring us closer together in authentic relationships. The series aims to challenge participants while fostering greater awareness, compassion, and engagement in pursuing racial equity.

More than 30 community members from diverse backgrounds gathered together and shared their stories of experiencing racism for the first time, including Sabrina Roberts, Senior Advisor to Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne.

Executive Director Faten Odeh of CAIR-Cleveland and Northern Ohio said:

“We know as Muslims that racism is wrong but that doesn’t mean it’s nonexistent in our community as we are not immune to the social ills that has affected society. We are thankful for the grant from NeighborhoodUp that is allowing us to bring together our community to tackle this issue you. We are also thankful to Speedys Grub Shack for providing the dinner and for the Beit Hanina Cultural Center for providing the venue.”

The next session will be held on Thurs. April 10th at Urban Community School. To sign up please click below:
REGISTRATION LINK

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, 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.

Become a Fan of the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/CAIRCleveland
Subscribe to the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio’s YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@caircleveland
Follow the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/cairohiocleveland/

CONTACT: CAIR-OH Executive Director, Cleveland & Northern Ohio, Faten Odeh (216) 440-2247, fodeh@cair.com

(CLEVELAND, OH – 12/19/24) – COLUMBUS, OH – CLEVELAND, OH – December 19, 2024 – Today, after statewide efforts to protect Free Speech in Ohio, CAIR-OH, Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), OPAWL, the ACLU and other coalitional partners celebrate the defeat of the attempt to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism in Ohio Law.

During the press conference on December 12th, CAIR-Ohio leadership, including Executive Directors Faten Odeh and Khalid Turanni, articulated their concerns and outlined the steps the organization intends to take to challenge the bill. Additionally, during the first hearing in front of the judicial committee, Faten Odeh and Khalid Turanni provided opposing testimony, further emphasizing their disapproval of the bill.

CAIR-OH and Coalitional partners from around Ohio gathered in the Ohio State House Rotunda on Tuesday, December 17th, demanding that their representatives vote no on the anti-free speech bill that criminalizes anti-Israel speech. During this gathering, they called their representatives urging them to vote no, and protect their civil freedoms.

CAIR-OH sent out two action alerts, which resulted in over 2000 emails being sent to representatives in the Ohio State House demanding them to vote no on both SB 297 and HB 315, as well as hundreds of phone calls directed towards the state senators’ offices.
Testimonies were also given by constituents from around the state of Ohio following a call to mobilize.

Watch CAIR-Cleveland & North Executive Director’s Testimony
Executive Director Faten Odeh of CAIR-Cleveland and Northern Ohio said:

“Let it be known with unwavering resolve: any attempt to suppress our freedom of speech will be met with the relentless advocacy of CAIR-Ohio and our steadfast coalition partners, united by the unshakable principles of justice and human rights. This victory stands as a powerful testament to the indomitable human spirit—a collective triumph over those who would silence our voices against the atrocities inflicted upon innocent civilians, funded by our own U.S. tax dollars. We will not rest until Ohio’s state laws embody the will of the people they are meant to serve—representing Ohioans, not the interests of a foreign government.”

Watch CAIR-Columbus & Cincinnati Executive Director’s Testimony
Executive Director Khalid Turanni of CAIR-Columbus and Cincinnati said:

“Today, the First Amendment triumphed, and those who sought to erode our freedom of speech to shield Israeli war crimes were defeated. Together with our allies—Jewish Voice for Peace, the ACLU, Students for Justice in Palestine, and others—CAIR Ohio stood firm in defense of the U.S. Constitution and against legislative overreach. This victory is a testament to the power of collective action. Congratulations to all who stood up for our fundamental rights!”

READ TESTIMONIES HERE

Jewish Voice for Peace- Cleveland member, Sean Abbot-Klafter stated:

“Today is a great day for the Constitution! Ohio lawmakers stood strong against a small group of fringe activists who attempted to quietly eliminate the right to free speech for all Ohioans. In the face of this attack, Ohio lawmakers affirmed their belief that the government shouldn’t control the thoughts and speech of its citizens. We applaud their courage and look forward to their continued defense of the constitution.”

Human Rights Watch recently published a report today, ” Extermination and Acts of Genocide,” summarizing the acts of Israel to Gaza in which has allowed the International Court of Justice and Amnesty International to deem a genocide.
Read Report Here

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, 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.

Become a Fan of the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/CAIRCleveland
Subscribe to the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio’s Twitter Feed

Subscribe to the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio’s YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@caircleveland
Follow the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/cairohiocleveland/
Donate to the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio

END

CONTACT: CAIR-OH Executive Director, Cleveland & Northern Ohio, Faten Odeh (216) 440-2247, fodeh@cair.com; , Khalid Turaani, Executive Director, CAIR-OH, Columbus | Cincinnati | Dayton, (614) 401-6692, kturaani@cair.com