CAIR-Cleveland & Northern Ohio

Category: Interfaith Relations

  • More Than 400 Guests Attend CAIR-Cleveland Ramadan Iftar and Benefit

    More Than 400 Guests Attend CAIR-Cleveland Ramadan Iftar and Benefit

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 4/1/23) – On Saturday, April 1 the Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OHIO) held its 14th Annual Ramadan Iftar Banquet with members of the Muslim and interfaith communities.

    More than 400 guests attended the iftar, which was held at LaVilla Conference and Banquet Center in Cleveland, Ohio. (“Iftar” is the meal eaten after sunset each day during Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting.)

    The guest speaker was CAIR National’s Board Chair Dr. Manal Fakhoury. Dr. Fakhoury is also the president and CEO of Fakhoury Leadership International. The CAIR-Cleveland & Northern Ohio chapter was honored to be the first chapter Dr. Fakhoury visited since becoming CAIR National’s board chair.

    Alauddin Alauddin, Vice President of Muslim Family Services of Ohio (MFSOH) and the evening’s inspirational speaker, urged attendees to continue to support CAIR’s work to challenge Islamophobia and protect civil rights.  

    Tessa Xuan, statewide co-director of OPAWL, shared information about the Multiracial Curriculum Campaign, which CAIR-Ohio is a coalition steering team member.

    In addition, CAIR presented their I-CAIR Volunteer of the Year Award to volunteers Nur and Zayna Makupson, the Social Justice Award to Dr. Shereen Naser, the Generosity Award to Holyland International Imports, and the Community Service Award to Dr. Simee & Masroor Malik. Outgoing Executive Director Julia Shearson was presented with the Above & Beyond Award for 20 years of her selfless dedication and service to the community.

    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.

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    https://caircleveland.com/donate/ 

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    CONTACT:  CAIR-Ohio, Cleveland Chapter Interim Executive Director Faten Odeh, 216.830.2247, fodeh@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202.744.7726, ihooper@cair.com

  • CAIR-Ohio Hosts World-Renowned Anti-Apartheid Leaders and International Peacebuilders  

    CAIR-Ohio Hosts World-Renowned Anti-Apartheid Leaders and International Peacebuilders  

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 2/1/2023) – The Cleveland Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland), along with members of Teatime for Peace, hosted a forum and dinner for two world-renowned anti-apartheid leaders and international peacebuilders on Friday, January 27.

    The two leaders, Mohammed Bhabha and Roelf Meyer and their delegation were visiting Cleveland as part of a lecture circuit hosted by organizations Civic Genius, Beyond Conflict and YOUnify. Both Bhabha and Meyer played significant roles in “ending conflict in South Africa – and are eager to help Americans apply their lessons learned to our current political crisis.”

    More than 20 guests from across faiths and backgrounds joined the intimate gathering at Rumi’s Market and Grill to ask questions and gain insight from the two leaders.

    CAIR-Ohio, Cleveland Co-Founder and Board Member Isam Zaiem stated:

    “It was inspiring to learn about the experiences and successes of these two leaders from South Africa in their struggle to end apartheid. With America increasingly divided along racial and political lines, I gained hope that we, too, can heal our nation if people of opposing views can learn to look beyond their differences and put the common good and interests of future generations first and foremost.”

    “In addition to sharing their experiences at peacebuilding, the South African leaders also took a keen interest in the mission of our Teatime for Peace program,” said Humera Khan, CAIR Board Member and Teatime for Peace Steering Committee Co-Chair.

    Khan added: “Our mission is to bring together people of diverse belief systems and ethnic and racial backgrounds to engage in honest dialogue in order to counter the tendency toward ‘othering’ those who we perceive as being different. Our South African speakers felt they could gain from hosting Teatime for Peace events in their home country. The hope is if we share peace-building ideas and efforts across continents, we truly can make a difference.”

    In addition to attending our gathering, Bhabha and Meyer spoke at events hosted by Case Western Reserve University’s Social Justice Institute, the Cleveland City Club, and the Palestine Breakfast Club.

    SEE: “Bridging the Divide in Greater University Circle: Lessons from South Africa” 

    SEE: Lessons from South Africa: Moving Past Polarization and Intense Division in America 

    Roelf Meyer is known for his role as the South African government’s chief representative in the 1993 negotiations to end apartheid and establish a democratic country. He served in the cabinet of former President Nelson Mandela, and later became secretary-general of the National Party. In 1997 he co-founded the United Democratic Movement. Meyer consulted on international peace processes in Kosovo, Myanmar, Northern Ireland, and Rwanda, among others.

    Mohammed Bhabha is a former Member of Parliament, qualified attorney, and experienced negotiator. He was part of the African National Congress (ANC) team at the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA), and later as part of the agreements on the final South African Constitution. Mohammed has worked on transitional and constitutional support projects in Kenya, South Sudan, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Palestine, Bahrain, and Zimbabwe.

    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
    https://twitter.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/
    Donate to the Cleveland chapter of CAIR-Ohio
    https://caircleveland.com/donate/

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    CONTACT:  CAIR-Ohio, Cleveland & Northern Ohio Chapter Interim Executive Director Faten Odeh, 216.830.2247, fodeh@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202.744.7726, ihooper@cair.com

  • CAIR-Ohio and Area Muslim Leaders Attend Interfaith Forum at Cuyahoga Community College

    CAIR-Ohio and Area Muslim Leaders Attend Interfaith Forum at Cuyahoga Community College

    (CLEVELAND, OHIO, 11-1-2022) – The Cleveland Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Ohio and members of Muslim leadership in greater Cleveland recently joined an interfaith luncheon forum hosted by the new President of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), Dr. Michael A. Baston.   Dr. Baston, a national thought leader in the fields of education, workforce development, and economic advancement, sought to leverage the voices of faith leaders in advancing social and economic justice in our region through promoting access to affordable high-quality education offered at community colleges such as Tri-C.

    At the forum, Dr. Baston, an inspirational faith leader in his own right, issued a clarion call to clergy and leaders of diverse faiths to center the message of education as a means to help congregants fulfill their human potential. He emphasized the centrality of education as a tool to promote sustainable and equitable regional development and as a means to prepare people for good paying jobs with benefits that allow them to build economic security and achieve lasting prosperity for their families.

    “Dr. Baston’s exemplary servant leadership and compassion are evident in his care and concern for the entire community and his insistence on leaving no one trapped behind the barriers of multi-generational poverty,” said Julia Shearson, CAIR-Ohio Cleveland Chapter Executive Director, who helped coordinate attendance of Muslim leaders at the event. “His message of inclusion and the need to lift all boats is especially critical in the Cleveland metropolitan area which faces stubborn disparities in terms of access to economic resources, high-quality education, and affordable childcare, housing, and healthcare.”

    To Learn more about the new Tri-C President, Dr. Michael A. Baston, click here.

    Click here to learn more about the breath of Tri-C’s educational services including more than 1,000 courses offered and more than 200 programs covering areas from career readiness and workforce development programs for high school students to their life-long learners and senior citizen programs.

    In keeping with the values of diversity and inclusion, Tri-C recently established a prayer space for Muslim students attending the main metropolitan campus.

    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.

    – END –

    CONTACT:  CAIR-Ohio, Cleveland Chapter Executive Director Julia Shearson, 216.830.2247, jshearson@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202.744.7726, ihooper@cair.com

  • Know Your Rights and Responsibilitites: Requesting Religious Accommodations During Ramadan

    Know Your Rights and Responsibilitites: Requesting Religious Accommodations During Ramadan

    As-Salamu Alaykum Community Members,

    Alhamdullilah, the month of Ramadan is here. We, at CAIR-Ohio, Cleveland Chapter, pray that Allah (swt) will shower you and your families with the peace and blessings of Ramadan. May Allah (swt) accept your fasting, charity and good deeds during this blessed month.

    From a practical perspective, we are providing information below to help you should you need to request a religious accommodation at work or at school. Remember that you have a right to practice your religion and there are laws that ensure you can exercise this right.

    (more…)

  • Two Faiths: One Spirit | Free Public Concert Series

    Two Faiths: One Spirit | Free Public Concert Series

    TWO FAITHS: ONE SPIRIT

    March 14 – 18, 2018

    From the Sarajevo Haggadah to the Courageous Librarians of Timbuktu

    A richly illuminated Jewish holy book known as the Sarajevo Haggadah is saved from the Nazis during WWII by an Imam who recognizes its historical, cultural and spiritual value and hides it under the mosque floor allowing it to be preserved to this day. A group of courageous librarians risk their lives to save Muslim manuscripts and literary treasures housed in Timbuktu from destruction by violent extremists with the help of Harvard Professor, Dr. Henry Louis Gates, a Christian from West Virginia whose African roots lead him to help save the rich historical legacy of his ancestral land.

    These two parallel stories of religiously significant documents saved with the help of people of different beliefs shows the indomitable nature of the human spirit and our instinct to work together preserve what is beautiful and good in the world.

    For more info:
    citymusiccleveland.org

    Avner Dorman conductor | Merima Ključo accordion

    BARDANASHVILI Elegy for Strings
    KLJUČO Sarajevo Haggadah: Music of the Book – World Premiere
    RANJBARAN Seven Passages COHEN Warzazat

    Wednesday, March 14, 7:30PM
    Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple, 23737 Fairmount Boulevard, Beachwood
    Thursday, March 15, 7:30PM
    St. Jerome Church, 15000 Lake Shore Boulevard, Collinwood
    Friday, March 16, 11AM
    Cuyahoga County Library Auditorium, 2121 Snow Road, Parma
    Friday, March 16, 7:30PM
    Lakewood Congregational Church, 1375 West Clifton, Lakewood
    Saturday, March 17, 8PM
    St. Stanislaus Church, 3649 East 65th Street, Cleveland
    Sunday, March 18, 4PM
    St. Mary Parish, 320 Middle Avenue, Elyria

  • Muslim Leaders Meet Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Cleveland

    Muslim Leaders Meet Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Cleveland

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 10/12/06) – Leaders of the Muslim community of Cleveland met this week with The Most Reverend Richard G. Lennon, the new Bishop of the Catholic Diocese. The purpose of the meeting was to welcome Bishop Lennon and to discuss relations between the Diocese and the Muslim community in Northeast Ohio.

    During the meeting, Muslim leaders presented information about Islam and Muslims in Northeast Ohio and expressed their hope for a continuation of the relations established by the Bishop Emeritus Anthony M. Pilla. The Muslim participants also praised the work of Father Joseph Hilinski, Interfaith Director of the Catholic Diocese, who helped build ties between the two communities.

    “The groundwork for good relations between the Muslim and Catholic communities in Northeast Ohio has been established,” said Fareed Siddiq, President of Religion of Peace, a local organization active in interfaith dialogue. “And we look forward to expanding the cooperation and friendship among the people of our respective faith traditions.”

    Joining the meeting were representatives of Uqbah Mosque Foundation, the Islamic Center of Cleveland, the Islamic Society of Akron and Kent, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, and the Religion of Peace.

    CONTACT: Fareed Siddiq, President, Religion of Peace, 440.247.1340 or 216.798.8555, siddiq1@sbcglobal.net; Isam Zaiem, Chair, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Cleveland Office, 216.337.7928, isamz@sbcglobal.net; [Dr. Jalal AbuShaweesh, President, Islamic Center of Cleveland,  440.541.3082, jxa16@case.edu; Ramez Islambouli, President, Uqbah Mosque Foundation, 216.288.6145; rislambouli@yahoo.com]