CAIR-Cleveland & Northern Ohio

Category: News

  • CAIR-OHIO PROVIDES TRAINING TO FAIRVIEW HOSPITAL PARISH NURSES

    CAIR-OHIO PROVIDES TRAINING TO FAIRVIEW HOSPITAL PARISH NURSES

    Seminar offers information on culture, religion and caring for Muslim patients

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 5/17/06) –  The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OHIO), Cleveland Office recently provided training to parish nurses affiliated with the Fairview, Lutheran, and Lakewood Hospitals, which are part of the Cleveland Clinic Health System.

    The training entitled Cultural Competency: Understanding the Muslim Patient is part of a series of ongoing outreach efforts by CAIR-OHIO in the health care field. Recent healthcare-related seminars offered by the Cleveland office include the Hospice of the Western Reserve and Metro Health Hospital.

    The Parish Nurse Program at Fairview Hospital is designed to meet the emotional, physical, and spiritual needs through a wholistic approach. Nurses who are part of the program work directly in their parish communities to provide health services and wellness information. Because many of their service areas encompassed members of the Muslim community, the nurses requested a seminar on how to provide culturally competent care to Muslim patients.

    Dr. Shazia Khan, internal medicine specialist at MetroHealth Medical Center, led the training. CAIR also provided the publication “A Health Care Provider’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices” as well as other materials on Islam and cultural sensitivity.

    The program received many accolades and follow-up speaking requests.

    Contact: Julia A. Shearson, Director, Cleveland Office, 216.830.2247, E-Mail: events@cleveland.cair.com; Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin, President, CAIR-OHIO, 614.451.3232, E-Mail: asma@cair-ohio.com.

    .

     

  • CAIR-OHIO MEETS WITH NORTH OLMSTED MAYOR

    CAIR-OHIO MEETS WITH NORTH OLMSTED MAYOR

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 3/29/06) – Representatives of the Cleveland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OHIO) met recently with the Mayor of North Olmsted, Thomas O’Grady. The meeting focused on fostering increased civic participation by the Muslim community, issues of police community relations, and the status of civil rights in America.

    (more…)

  • CAIR-OHIO JOINS LIBRARY FORUM ON CARTOON CONTROVERSY

    CAIR-OHIO JOINS LIBRARY FORUM ON CARTOON CONTROVERSY

    (CLEVELAND, OH 3/9/06) – On Wednesday, March 8, members of the Cleveland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations were invited to participate in a forum entitled “The Cartooning of Mohammed: Free Speech or Hate Speech.”  The forum is part of a discussion series called “An Evening of Civil Discourse” sponsored by the Geauga County Public Library.

    The event, held in the Bainbridge Public Library, offered a chance to exchange ideas on press freedoms and ethical journalism, as well as free speech, religious tolerance and foreign policy. Dave Lange, editor of the Chagrin Valley Times and the Times Courier newspapers provided a media perspective, while members of the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Religion of Peace organization provided a Muslim perspective.  Approximately 30 people attended the program. CAIR presented the children’s book My Name is Bilal, written by Dr. Asma Mobin-Uddin, as a gift to the library.

  • Cleveland Muslims Meet with Officials from The Plain Dealer

    Cleveland Muslims Meet with Officials from The Plain Dealer

    Meeting prompted by biased article on Ohio Muslim Charity

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 1/19/06) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OHIO) recently hosted editors and reporters from The Plain Dealer at a meeting to discuss the paper’s coverage of Islam and Muslims.

    The meeting, which brought together Muslim community leaders and The Plain Dealer editors and reporters, was called by CAIR in response a recent article on the Muslim charity KindHearts. The article angered local Muslims due to its near exclusive reliance on the infamous Islamophobe Steven Emerson.

    At the meeting, CAIR officials presented a detailed analysis of The Plain Dealer’s 2005 coverage, citing marked improvement over the previous year. However, a number of concerns remained, including the lack of Muslim journalists at the paper, missed opportunities to present local Muslim reaction to crucial national and international issues, misuse of Islamic terms, sensationalism, factual inaccuracies and bias. CAIR urged The Plain Dealer to step up its role as government watchdog and faulted the paper for not investigating potential federal misuse of delayed notification warrants and overly broad search and seizure methods against local Muslim businesses.

    Citing a lack of Muslim journalists in top journalism schools, The Plain Dealer pledged to work with CAIR and local mosques to host media seminars and career days. The paper also agreed to recruit Muslims for its job shadowing program.

    Present at the meeting were community leaders from the Muslim Association of Cleveland East (MACE), The Islamic Center of Cleveland, Uqbah Mosque Foundation, First Cleveland Mosque, AACCESS, Peace in the Hood, IntraCity Muslim Action Network (IMAN), the Ansar Institute, as well as several Muslim attorneys and professionals. The Plain Dealer side included top editors as well as columnists and reporters who frequently cover issues relating to the Muslim community.

    CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 30 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

    To read CAIR’s Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to: https://www.cair.com/about-us/vision-mission-core-principles.html

    CONTACT: Julia A. Shearson, 216.830.2247 or 216.440.2247, E-Mail: jshearson@cair.com; Ibrahim Hooper, 202.488.8787 or 202.744.7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com

    -END-

     

  • CLEVELAND IMAM SWORN IN AS CITY CHAPLAIN

    CLEVELAND IMAM SWORN IN AS CITY CHAPLAIN

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 9/19/05) – A prominent Cleveland Muslim, Imam Abbas Ahmad of First Cleveland Mosque, was recently sworn in by Police Chief Michael McGrath as an official Muslim chaplain for the City of Cleveland.

    As an official chaplain for the city of Cleveland Imam Abbas’ duties will include crisis intervention for police officers and the community. Also sworn in was Bishop John Hilton of Faith Temple Church of God. A number of family members, friends and members of the Muslim community joined Imam Abbas at police headquarters for the ceremony.

    On Sunday, September 18, a gathering was held at First Cleveland Mosque to honor Imam Abbas for his appointment. At that time, he was presented with a certificate from CAIR recognizing the contributions he has made to the Cleveland Muslim community. Imam Abbas frequently participates in official religious services for the City. He recently represented the Muslim community at the memorial service for slain US Marines and at an interfaith service for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. He is the Amir of the Council of Mosques and has played an important role in helping to unify the Muslim community.

    Imam Abbas retired this year from the Cleveland Public School system after 29 years of service, the last three years in the position of Dean of Students at Carl Louis Stokes Academy. Imam Abbas is the grandson of First Cleveland Mosque founder, Imam Wali Akram.

    CONTACT: Julia A. Shearson, 216.830.2247 or 216.440.2247, E-Mail: jshearson@cair.com

  • CAIR JOINS TOLEDO ISLAMIC CENTER IN RADIO BROADCAST

    CAIR JOINS TOLEDO ISLAMIC CENTER IN RADIO BROADCAST

    Clear Channel Talk Radio Broadcasts from Islamic Center of Greater Toledo

    (Toledo, OH, 8/12/05) – The Islamic Center of Greater Cleveland hosted Clear Channel’s 1370 WSPD News Radio show Bob Frantz and the Morning News on Friday, August 12. The three-hour program, which was broadcast live from the Islamic Center, helped dispel stereotypes about Islam and Muslims. The public was invited to the forum and to sample a beautiful Middle Eastern breakfast prepared by the Muslim Women’s Auxiliary.

    The president of the Islamic Center, Dr. Zaheer Hasan, who organized the forum, arranged for Bob Frantz, Executive Producer of the popular morning news show Bob Frantz and the Morning News, to broadcast from the live from the Islamic Center in order to reach out to the broader American public. The radio town hall forum highlighted the recent fatwa condemning terrorism issued by the Fiqh Council of North America. The Center’s leadership invited Julia Shearson, CAIR’s Cleveland office director, to speak about the fatwa and CAIR’s efforts at publicizing the fatwa and gathering endorsements.

    During the program, Dr. Mahjabeen Islam described a campaign she initiated called “Project Friday Khutbah.” The campaign is a grass roots effort to encourage imams to condemn terrorism in their weekly Friday sermons. CAIR is also asking Muslim communities across the country to request that the anti-terrorism fatwa be read during sermons.

    To read the full text of the fatwa go to: https://www.cair.com/component/content/article/26-anti-terrorism/11706-fatwa-against-terrorism.html

    “This was an invaluable chance to reach out to more than 100,000 ordinary Americans during their morning commute,” said Julia Shearson. “Islamic centers across the country should follow Toledo’s lead and request that their local talk radio stations hold similar forums.”

    For more information, contact the Islamic Center of Greater Toledo at 419.874.3500, info@icgt.com; or CAIR, Cleveland office 216.830.2247, events@cleveland.cair.com.

  • CAIR Meets with Cuyahoga County Commissioner

    CAIR Meets with Cuyahoga County Commissioner

    (Cleveland, OH, 7/7/05) – The Cleveland office of CAIR-OHIO recently met with Cuyahoga County Commissioner Tim Hagan to discuss a range of issues concerning the Muslim community. The meeting was part of a broader outreach effort undertaken by CAIR to acquaint area civic leaders and elected officials with the Muslim community. The outreach program, entitled “100VIPs,” is designed to promote interaction among Muslims and various community leaders across Ohio.

    CAIR officials highlighted the diversity among Muslims in Cuyahoga County and provided background on the level of professionalism and entrepreneurship among the Muslim population, citing the plethora of doctors, researchers, engineers and Muslim business owners who contribute to economic development in the County.

    (more…)

  • CAIR CONDEMNS ‘BARBARIC’ LONDON TERROR ATTACKS

    CAIR CONDEMNS ‘BARBARIC’ LONDON TERROR ATTACKS

    (WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/7/05) – A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today condemned this morning’s bomb attacks in London as “barbaric crimes.”

    In its statement, the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said:

    “We join Americans of all faiths, and all people of conscience worldwide, in condemning these barbaric crimes that can never be justified or excused. American Muslims offer their sincere condolences to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured in today’s attacks and call for the swift apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators.”

    The Muslim Council of Britain and other British Islamic groups issued similar condemnations of the attacks and urged Muslims to help in the recovery effort.

    In 2004, CAIR launched an online petition drive, called “Not in the Name of Islam,” designed to disassociate Islam from the violent acts of a few Muslims. SEE: https://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/1370-cair-condemns-barbaric-london-terror-attacks.html

    The “Not in the Name of Islam” petition states: “We, the undersigned Muslims, wish to state clearly that those who commit acts of terror, murder and cruelty in the name of Islam are not only destroying innocent lives, but are also betraying the values of the faith they claim to represent. No injustice done to Muslims can ever justify the massacre of innocent people, and no act of terror will ever serve the cause of Islam. We repudiate and dissociate ourselves from any Muslim group or individual who commits such brutal and un-Islamic acts. We refuse to allow our faith to be held hostage by the criminal actions of a tiny minority acting outside the teachings of both the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.”

    CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 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. To read CAIR’s Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to: https://www.cair.com/about-us/vision-mission-core-principles.html

    – END –

    OHIO CONTACTS: Ahmad Al-Akhras, 614.989.5916, ahmad@cair-ohio.com, Julia Shearson, 216.440.2247, Karen Dabdoub, 513.604.4444

  • CLEVELAND MUSLIMS HOLD EMERGENCY CIVIL RIGHTS FORUM

    CLEVELAND MUSLIMS HOLD EMERGENCY CIVIL RIGHTS FORUM

    Meeting prompted by seizure of Muslim financial records

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 2/15/05) – On Sunday, February 13, the Ohio office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio), in cooperation with Beit Hanina Social Club, held a “Know Your Rights” forum in Cleveland.

    The forum was in response to the recent federal search and seizures conducted at the office of a prominent certified public accountant, whose firm housed the financial records of hundreds of Muslim businesses and individuals in the Greater Cleveland area.

    At the forum, prominent civil and immigration rights attorneys highlighted challenges facing the Muslim community in post-9/11 America. Citing recent FBI questioning about people’s political views, civil rights attorney Terry Gilbert said, “Fear and paranoia have replaced reason and common sense.” On a positive note, Gilbert cited the courts as the “last bastion” and praised a judicial system where people can “still get relief when the other branches of government fail them.”

    An ACLU spokesperson criticized a series of measures that abridge civil rights, including selective enforcement of immigration law, detention without charge, no-fly lists, and the Patriot Act. He said the general attitude toward Muslims in America now is that they are “guilty until proven innocent.”

    Nationally-known immigration attorney David Leopold told Muslims that they must be vigilant in protecting their rights. He raised strong concerns about the recent passage of HR 418, a bill that strips the rights of immigrants and makes it virtually impossible for asylum seekers to win refuge in this country.

    Overall, the panel called for members of the Muslim community to unite in defense of their rights. Leopold said that “Muslim Americans should call their public officials and voice opposition to discriminatory legislation. He said, “Government and public officials are our servants and they need to be reminded that they work for us.”

    In speaking of the possibility of an FBI visit at his home, one audience member said, “When something like that happens, it is a very lonely world for you and your family.” Panelists were quick to point to resources available in such situations. “Know your rights” pamphlets were distributed, along with a handy worksheet to be filled out in case of a visit by law enforcement. More than 100 people attended the meeting.  Leaders agreed to form coalitions and to hold additional educational seminars.

    CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 31 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

    To read CAIR’s Mission, Vision Statement and Core Principles, go to: https://www.cair.com/about-us/vision-mission-core-principles.html

    – END –

    CONTACT: Julia A. Shearson, 216.830.2247 or 216.440.2247, E-Mail: jshearson@cair.com; Ibrahim Hooper, 202.488.8787 or 202.744.7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com

     

  • Donations Help Tsunami Victims

    Donations Help Tsunami Victims

    (Cleveland, OH, 1/27/05) – The Islamic Center of Cleveland raised $15,000 in one day for the victims of the Asian tsunami that hit on Dec. 26, 2004. The money was donated to the Red Cross on Jan. 1, 2005 making the Center one of the first Muslim organizations in the area to donate to the relief fund.

    “We are so grateful to the Islamic Center of Cleveland for being among the first to recognize the enormity of this horrible tragedy, said Mary-Alice Frank, CEO of the American Red Cross, Greater Cleveland Chapter. “Their financial donation will help many people who are trying to put their lives back together following the tsunami disaster.”

    ICC Treasurer, Ahmed Ansari, said he was not surprised by the generosity because the Muslim community is always very open hearted. In announcements after Friday prayers he said it was wonderful to see little kids raising money to donate. One child donated $185.

    At the Eid-ul-Adha celebration on Jan. 21, a group of children organized a separate fundraiser with their parents. Six boys, Ammar, Zaeem, Salman, Hashim, Murtaza and Saad baked brownies and cookies, while three girls, Sanya, Sara and Farah made book-markers and bracelets. Together the children raised $360.

    The money will be donated to Save the Children, an organization devoted to providing non-profit humanitarian relief for needy children around the globe. This contribution will go directly to the children affected by the tsunami. At the bake sale, the children told customers that a $4-donation could cover antibiotics for one needy child.

    (more…)