CAIR-AZ Applauds Release of Palestinian Asylum Seeker from ICE Detention

(PHOENIX, AZ, 5/27/2016) � The Arizona chapter of the Council on American Islamic-Relations of (CAIR-AZ) today applauded the decision of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to release Palestinian asylum seeker Hisham Ghalia from his prolonged detention.

In February, CAIR-AZ, along with The Law Offices of Zayed Al-Sayyed, filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus to the U.S. Government requesting Hisham's release from the facility.

SEE: CAIR-AZ Files Petition for Habeas Corpus for Palestinian Asylum Seeker Held in ICE Detention Facility in Arizona

Ghalia, along with Mounis Hammouda, fled Gaza under horrific conditions in 2010, traveling to Turkey, Cyprus, Venezuela, through Mexico. Both men sought asylum in the United States and surrendered themselves at the border. Ghalia, without any legal representation, chose to forgo his asylum claim after months in detention. He remained in Florence detention facility for more than a year and a half as the government unsuccessfully attempted to effectuate his removal.

SEE: 500 Days in Limbo: The Story of Two Men From Gaza Stuck in U.S. Immigration Detention

The U.S. Wants to Deport This Palestinian, But First It'd Have to Recognize Palestine

Hammouda was released on March 9 on bond with his asylum hearing still pending. Ghalia was kept in detention until yesterday evening when ICE authorities announced that he would be released under an order of supervision until his removal. Both men can now proceed forward with building lives and working to support themselves.

"We are pleased with this outcome, and hope that this is the first step for both Hisham and Mounis to finally begin living normal lives," said CAIR-AZ Civil Rights Director Liban Yousuf. "They have endured more than anyone can imagine in the past five years, so it's a great feeling to see them both smiling today."

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. 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.

If you believe your rights have been violated, you may call CAIR's Civil Rights Department at 202-742-6420 or email civilrights@cair.com.

CONTACT: CAIR-AZ Civil Rights Director Liban Yousuf at (602) 301-7618 or email lyousuf@cair.com

***

BREAKING: NY Taxi Driver Attacked for Being Muslim

A cab driver working in the Bronx says he was attacked Saturday by someone who screamed death threats and derided his Muslim faith.
Sirajul Islam Khan, who still had visible bruises on his face Monday, says he picked up at customer at Bedford Park and Webster Avenue around 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
CAIR-FL: Islamophobes Target Anti-Islamophobia Event at Florida Atlantic University Tonight

Speakers tonight will include CAIR Florida communications director and civil rights attorney Wilfredo Ruiz, Shaikh Shafayat Mohamed of the Darul Uloom Islamic Center, attorney Maha El Kolalli, FAU Engineering Professor Basem Al Halabi, and student Deema Gichi. A pastor and rabbi are also set to speak.

CAIR-FL: Concerns Over Hate Group at 'Islamophobia' Talk at FAU (palm Beach Post)

Wilfredo A. Ruiz: "It's a very short presentation followed by an ample Q & A session where people can interact and hear directly from the Muslim community." Ruiz, a spokesman for the Council on American Islamic Relations, said he was familiar with The United West, which he described as having an "agent provocateur" strategy of making people who attend these events uncomfortable as they arrive.

At Houston Anti-Muslim Rally, White Supremacists Say They're Totally Not Racist

CAIR: Young Muslim American Women Try to Succeed In Politics in Ways Their Fathers Couldn't (Washington Post)

Ahmed, Bukhari-Rizvi and Syahmalina all said they want to offer voters a reasonable, appealing image at a time when they say U.S. politics has become poisoned by anti-Muslim fears. As professional middle-class women, Hamza and others said, they may seem less threatening to voters than their male peers.

"With women, there is a trust factor. People tend to open up more to them," said Zainab Chaudry, who is Maryland state director for the Council on American Islamic Relations, a nonprofit advocacy group.

CAIR-MN: Minnesota Production-Line Businesses Seek to Accommodate Muslim Prayer Practices

When a Somali employee quit over the difficulties of scheduling prayers in his workday, IWCO approached the Minnesota Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) to help resolve the matter. The advocacy group visited the campus and explained Somali culture and its practice of Islam. As a result, the marketing services firm added two unpaid breaks per shift, posted a prayer calendar for supervisors and rehired the worker who had quit.

***

• Video: CAIR Files EEOC, NLRB Complaints on Behalf of Muslim Workers Fired from Ariens Plant in Wisc.
•  
  • CAIR: Muslim Employees File Religious Discrimination Complaint Against Wisconsin Firm Over Prayer Dispute
  • CAIR: Muslims File Religious Discrimination Complaint Against Ariens Co. in Brillion
    
• CAIR: Suspect Identified In Tenn. Anti-Muslim Road Rage Incident
•  
  • CAIR-LA: Women Wearing Head Scarves Harassed by Another Customer in Ice Cream Shop
• CAIR Action Alert: Tell Congress to Stop Singling Out Travelers From Muslim Majority Countries
  
  CAIR is calling on all Americans to contact their elected representatives in Congress to express serious objections to a series of discriminatory provisions within the VISA Act (H.R. 5203) that create new and intensive security requirements for immigrant and non-immigrants from a number of majority Muslim counties applying for visas to the U.S.
• Good News Alert: Nation's Oldest Private Military College Will Allow Hijab with Uniform

 
CAIR to Offer 'ISLAMOPHOBIN' at ICNA-MAS Convention in Baltimore

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/26/16) � The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said it will offer attendees at this weekend's ICNA-MAS convention in Baltimore, Md., the opportunity to obtain "ISLAMOPHOBIN®," a mock-medicine designed to "cure" Islamophobia.

SEE: Can CAIR's Comedy Crush Islamophobia?

CAIR: What if there were a medicine to make someone less prejudiced? (Washington Post)

Muslim Organization Touts Chewing Gum as Cure-All for Islamophobia

Seeing radical Muslims everywhere you look? Try 'Islamophobin'!

DONATE to the ISLAMOPHOBIN Campaign:

[NOTE: The 41st ICNA-MAS Annual Convention will be held May 28-30 at the Baltimore Convention Center. ISLAMOPHOBIN may be obtained at CAIR's booth in the convention bazaar beginning at noon on May 28.)

"We urge ICNA-MAS convention attendees to visit CAIR's booth in the bazaar and obtain ISLAMOPHOBIN to help create public awareness in their local communities about rising Islamophobia," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. "The positive impact of this campaign can be measured by the fact that it has gone viral on social media."

He added that the ISLAMOPHOBIN campaign is designed to empower people who see the rise in Islamophobia and seek to challenge it using satire and humor.

Awad said ISLAMOPHOBIN mugs and T-shirts will also be available at CAIR's booth, as will cut-outs of all the remaining presidential candidates. Visitors to CAIR's booth will be asked to take selfies with those candidate cut-outs as a vote on which one they believe should receive a package of ISLAMOPHOBIN.

CAIR yesterday launched the satirical public awareness campaign to challenge growing Islamophobia in America with the distribution of ISLAMOPHOBIN, described on its packaging as "Multi-Symptom Relief for Chronic Islamophobia," and the release of a faux television commercial for the product. (NOTE: ISLAMOPHOBIN is actually sugar-free-chewing gum. Use #ISLAMOPHOBIN.)

ISLAMOPHOBIN is available for purchase at www.amazon.com.

WATCH: Mock ISLAMOPHOBIN TV Commercial

The Washington-based civil rights organization has documented an unprecedented spike in anti-Muslim incidents nationwide recently, prompted at least in part by anti-Muslim rhetoric employed by public figures like Donald Trump.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. 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.

If you believe your rights have been violated, you may call CAIR's Civil Rights Department at 202-742-6420 or email civilrights@cair.com.

CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Nabeelah Naeem, 202-341-4171, nnaeem@cair.com

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CAIR Launches Satirical 'ISLAMOPHOBIN' Public Awareness Campaign to Challenge Anti-Muslim Bigotry

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/25/16) � The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today launched a satirical public awareness campaign to challenge growing Islamophobia in America.

In its new social media campaign, CAIR is distributing "ISLAMOPHOBIN®," a mock-medicine designed to "cure" Islamophobia and includes a television commercial for the product. (NOTE: ISLAMOPHOBIN is actually sugar-free-chewing gum. Use #ISLAMOPHOBIN. SEE sample tweets below.)

ISLAMOPHOBIN is available for purchase at www.amazon.com.

WATCH: Mock ISLAMOPHOBIN TV Commercial

[MEDIA NOTE: At 2:30 p.m. EST Wednesday, May 25, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad will live-stream a discussion of the launch of "ISLAMOPHOBIN" on the organization's Facebook page. Media professionals may send questions for Awad by emailing ihooper@cair.com prior to the live-streaming event.]

"We hope humor will help create public awareness about the harm Islamophobia does not only to ordinary American Muslims, but also to the values of equality and religious freedom upon which our nation was founded," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. "ISLAMOPHOBIN is funny, but Islamophobia is not."

The ISLAMOPHOBIN package states that the product is "Multi-Symptom Relief for Chronic Islamophobia" and claims the "Maximum Strength Formula" treats:

* Blind Intolerance
* Unthinking Bigotry
* Irrational Fear of Muslims
* U.S. Presidential Election Year Scapegoating

A "warning" states that ISLAMOPHOBIN "may result in peaceful coexistence."

A similar warning on the reverse of the package states: "Those who already believe in religious diversity, tolerance and mutual understanding should not use this product. For those who hold bigoted stereotypes of Muslims and subscribe to Islamophobic conspiracy theories, use of this product may result in feelings of remorse and/or guilt."

"Side effects" of ISLAMOPHOBIN may include "warm feelings toward Muslims, immigrants or refugees and "an allergy to the promotion of anti-Muslim bigotry."

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. 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.

The Washington-based civil rights organization has documented an unprecedented spike in anti-Muslim incidents nationwide recently, prompted at least in part by anti-Muslim rhetoric employed by public figures like Donald Trump.

SEE: Meeting the Anti-Muslim Hate Groups Who Love Donald Trump, Guns and Hating Islam

CAIR, AMAC Call for State, Federal Hate Crime Probes of Attack on Tenn. Muslim Woman

CAIR-Houston Calls on FBI to Probe Bomb Threat Targeting Islamic Center

CAIR Offers Reward for Info About DC Hate Attack on Muslim Woman

If you believe your rights have been violated, you may call CAIR's Civil Rights Department at 202-742-6420 or email civilrights@cair.com.

Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook

Subscribe to CAIR's Email List

Subscribe to CAIR's Twitter Feed

Subscribe to CAIR's YouTube Channel


CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Nabeelah Naeem, 202-341-4171, nnaeem@cair.com

CAIR to Announce Filing of EEOC, NLRB Complaints on Behalf of Muslim Workers Fired from Ariens Plant in Wisconsin

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/24/16) � On Wednesday, May 25, a representative of the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will live-stream an announcement of the filing of U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) complaints on behalf of 15 Muslim workers fired from an Ariens manufacturing plant in Wisconsin after the company changed its policy on accommodating prayer in the workplace.

MEDIA NOTE - CAIR's news conference will be live-streamed on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational

[NOTE: Media professionals may submit questions in advance to be answered by the CAIR representative to: mSayed@cair.com ]

WHAT: CAIR Live-Streaming Announcement of EEOC, NLRB Filings on Behalf of Wisconsin Muslim Workers Fired from Ariens Plant Over Prayer Issue

WHEN: Wednesday, May 25, 1 p.m. (EST)

WHERE: Live-Streamed on Facebook from CAIR's Capitol Hill Headquarters in Washington, D.C., https://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational

CONTACT: CAIR Civil Rights Staff Attorney Maha Sayed, 202-640-4935, msayed@cair.com

CAIR is filing complaints with the Milwaukee regional offices of the EEOC and the NLRB on behalf of the Somali-Muslim employees who allege that Ariens discriminated and retaliated against them on the basis of their religion, national origin and race after the company stopped allowing the workers to take breaks to pray, but continued to allow unscheduled breaks for non-religious purposes. (NOTE: Complaints for additional workers may be filed in the future.)

Video: More Muslim Workers Fired by Ariens Plant in Wisconsin (CAIR)

CAIR, along with a Denver law firm, previously filed similar EEOC and NLRB complaints on behalf of Muslim workers at a Cargill plant in Fort Morgan, Colo.

CAIR: Somali Workers in Colorado File EEOC Complaint Against Cargill

CAIR offers a booklet, called "An Employer's Guide to Islamic Religious Practices," to help corporate managers gain a better understanding of Islam and Muslims.

SEE: An Employer's Guide to Islamic Religious Practices

Preventing Discrimination Against Muslim And Middle Eastern Employees

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. 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, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com

***

• BREAKING: NY Taxi Driver Attacked for Being Muslim
  
  A cab driver working in the Bronx says he was attacked Saturday by someone who screamed death threats and derided his Muslim faith.
• 
  Sirajul Islam Khan, who still had visible bruises on his face Monday, says he picked up at customer at Bedford Park and Webster Avenue around 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
• CAIR-FL: Islamophobes Target Anti-Islamophobia Event at Florida Atlantic University Tonight
  
  Speakers tonight will include CAIR Florida communications director and civil rights attorney Wilfredo Ruiz, Shaikh Shafayat Mohamed of the Darul Uloom Islamic Center, attorney Maha El Kolalli, FAU Engineering Professor Basem Al Halabi, and student Deema Gichi. A pastor and rabbi are also set to speak.
•  
  • CAIR-FL: Concerns Over Hate Group at 'Islamophobia' Talk at FAU (palm Beach Post)
    
    Wilfredo A. Ruiz: "It's a very short presentation followed by an ample Q & A session where people can interact and hear directly from the Muslim community." Ruiz, a spokesman for the Council on American Islamic Relations, said he was familiar with The United West, which he described as having an "agent provocateur" strategy of making people who attend these events uncomfortable as they arrive.
  • At Houston Anti-Muslim Rally, White Supremacists Say They're Totally Not Racist
• CAIR: Young Muslim American Women Try to Succeed In Politics in Ways Their Fathers Couldn't (Washington Post)
  
  Ahmed, Bukhari-Rizvi and Syahmalina all said they want to offer voters a reasonable, appealing image at a time when they say U.S. politics has become poisoned by anti-Muslim fears. As professional middle-class women, Hamza and others said, they may seem less threatening to voters than their male peers.
  
  "With women, there is a trust factor. People tend to open up more to them," said Zainab Chaudry, who is Maryland state director for the Council on American Islamic Relations, a nonprofit advocacy group.
• CAIR-MN: Minnesota Production-Line Businesses Seek to Accommodate Muslim Prayer Practices
  
  When a Somali employee quit over the difficulties of scheduling prayers in his workday, IWCO approached the Minnesota Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) to help resolve the matter. The advocacy group visited the campus and explained Somali culture and its practice of Islam. As a result, the marketing services firm added two unpaid breaks per shift, posted a prayer calendar for supervisors and rehired the worker who had quit.

***

Council on American-Islamic Relations
453 New Jersey Ave, S.E., Washington, D.C., 20003

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