WASHINGTON — America’s Muslim community is celebrating 15 years during which the Council on American Muslim Relations (CAIR) had many achievements and faced many hardships in defending and advancing Muslim rights and civil liberties. “The organization and the community have grown tremendously, in terms of size and influence, compared to zero size and influence at the time we established CAIR,” Nihad Awad, co-founder and executive director of CAIR, told IslamOnline.
“Muslims now feel that there is a Muslim organization that can defend their rights.”
CAIR celebrated on Saturday, October 24, its 15th birthday in a ceremony attended by hundreds of Muslims from all walks of life who came to show support to the group.
A galaxy of US Muslim leaders and activists, government officials and Congressmen also showed up to share the special moment, themed “Leading the Change…15 Years of Service.”
Representatives of other faith communities were also present, including leading rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson, a key speaker, and Rabbi Steven Jacobs.
Established in 1994, CAIR is a non-profit grassroots organization headquartered in Washington DC, with 35 offices and chapters across the US and Canada.
It strives to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
“It was the right thing to do at the time,” CAIR Chairman and North Carolina Senator Larry Shaw told IOL.
“It was what is needed to organize the aspirations of Muslims in this country.”
Though there are no official figures, America is believed to be the home of nearly 7-8 million Muslims.
“We are in a better position to go forward to the next level,” asserts Senator Shaw, the longest-serving Muslim elected official in the US.
Challenges
But Awad notes that the Muslim organization has been through many challenges during these years. “The road was never rosy,” a smiling Awad said.
Ibrahim Hooper, CAIR’s Communications Director and one of its founders, agrees.
“There has been a lot of water under the bridge since our first day standing in front of a hotel which fired a woman for wearing hijab, to the hundreds of thousands of cases, editorials and media interviews that we have done,” he told IOL.
CAIR processed nearly 2,500 civil rights discrimination cases on behalf of Muslims in 2006, and more than 9,500 in the past decade.
Awad recalls that the first challenge they met was the reluctance of many Muslims to be engaged and their lack of confidence that the system can work for them.
“We have proved them wrong over the years that the system can work for them, but they have to show up and they have to be organized, and to take action.”
CAIR executive director says another challenge along the way was dealing with the media.
“We have shown that we can work with the media effectively. There is still a lot of work that needs to be done, but I think American Muslims understand the media culture now.”
Hooper asserts that to do that CAIR conducted hundreds of seminars nationwide on how Muslims can write press releases and organize actions.
“Fifteen years ago we were the only ones who can issue press releases or work with the media,” he recalls.
“Now after we trained so many people and people become more mature, spokesmen for small mosques all around the country can make press releases and contact the media and work with government officials.”
“Not Intimidated”
But the media also had shown another face to CAIR in recent years, with fierce attacks by right-wing media outlets over Funding and alleged ties to terrorist organizations. “They attack you when you are effective,” Awad contends.
“They feel that the growth of Islam and the development of the Muslim community are threatening their agenda.”
Just a few days before the 15th anniversary, a new book, “The Muslim Mafia”, accused CAIR of trying to infiltrate Congress through interns on the Judiciary, Intelligence and Homeland Security Committees.
Four House Republicans formally requested an investigation to determine if CAIR is a security threat.
Even the FBI decided earlier this year to server cooperation with CAIR on the pretext of its links to some radicals.
Awad lamented that the attacks have intensified in the wake of the 9/11 attacks as the media joined hands with far-right groups.
“They exploited unfortunate incidents that were done by some Muslims who are not from our community, and tried to generalize, bash and cash.”
But he is confident that CAIR would overcome such hardship.
“We are not afraid and we are not intimidated. The pressure should not deter us from doing what is right.
“CAIR is a firefighter. It has to continue to fight the fires of hate and ignorance, and reach out to people with the mercy that our religion advices us with.”
Source: IslamOnline
“Muslims now feel that there is a Muslim organization that can defend their rights.”
CAIR celebrated on Saturday, October 24, its 15th birthday in a ceremony attended by hundreds of Muslims from all walks of life who came to show support to the group.
A galaxy of US Muslim leaders and activists, government officials and Congressmen also showed up to share the special moment, themed “Leading the Change…15 Years of Service.”
Representatives of other faith communities were also present, including leading rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson, a key speaker, and Rabbi Steven Jacobs.
Established in 1994, CAIR is a non-profit grassroots organization headquartered in Washington DC, with 35 offices and chapters across the US and Canada.
It strives to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
“It was the right thing to do at the time,” CAIR Chairman and North Carolina Senator Larry Shaw told IOL.
“It was what is needed to organize the aspirations of Muslims in this country.”
Though there are no official figures, America is believed to be the home of nearly 7-8 million Muslims.
“We are in a better position to go forward to the next level,” asserts Senator Shaw, the longest-serving Muslim elected official in the US.
Challenges
But Awad notes that the Muslim organization has been through many challenges during these years. “The road was never rosy,” a smiling Awad said.
Ibrahim Hooper, CAIR’s Communications Director and one of its founders, agrees.
“There has been a lot of water under the bridge since our first day standing in front of a hotel which fired a woman for wearing hijab, to the hundreds of thousands of cases, editorials and media interviews that we have done,” he told IOL.
CAIR processed nearly 2,500 civil rights discrimination cases on behalf of Muslims in 2006, and more than 9,500 in the past decade.
Awad recalls that the first challenge they met was the reluctance of many Muslims to be engaged and their lack of confidence that the system can work for them.
“We have proved them wrong over the years that the system can work for them, but they have to show up and they have to be organized, and to take action.”
CAIR executive director says another challenge along the way was dealing with the media.
“We have shown that we can work with the media effectively. There is still a lot of work that needs to be done, but I think American Muslims understand the media culture now.”
Hooper asserts that to do that CAIR conducted hundreds of seminars nationwide on how Muslims can write press releases and organize actions.
“Fifteen years ago we were the only ones who can issue press releases or work with the media,” he recalls.
“Now after we trained so many people and people become more mature, spokesmen for small mosques all around the country can make press releases and contact the media and work with government officials.”
“Not Intimidated”
But the media also had shown another face to CAIR in recent years, with fierce attacks by right-wing media outlets over Funding and alleged ties to terrorist organizations. “They attack you when you are effective,” Awad contends.
“They feel that the growth of Islam and the development of the Muslim community are threatening their agenda.”
Just a few days before the 15th anniversary, a new book, “The Muslim Mafia”, accused CAIR of trying to infiltrate Congress through interns on the Judiciary, Intelligence and Homeland Security Committees.
Four House Republicans formally requested an investigation to determine if CAIR is a security threat.
Even the FBI decided earlier this year to server cooperation with CAIR on the pretext of its links to some radicals.
Awad lamented that the attacks have intensified in the wake of the 9/11 attacks as the media joined hands with far-right groups.
“They exploited unfortunate incidents that were done by some Muslims who are not from our community, and tried to generalize, bash and cash.”
But he is confident that CAIR would overcome such hardship.
“We are not afraid and we are not intimidated. The pressure should not deter us from doing what is right.
“CAIR is a firefighter. It has to continue to fight the fires of hate and ignorance, and reach out to people with the mercy that our religion advices us with.”
Source: IslamOnline
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