Activist Cleveland

The Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is America’s largest Islamic civil liberties group. Established in 1994 as a non-profit, grassroots civil rights organization, CAIR is dedicated to presenting an Islamic perspective on issues of importance to the American public. In offering that perspective, CAIR seeks to empower the Muslim community in America through political and social activism. The national headquarters is located on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and is assisted by 28 regional offices in the United States and Canada—including CAIR-Ohio, based in Columbus. CAIR provides an Islamic voice by promoting civil rights (CAIR counsels, mediates and advocates on behalf of Muslims who have experienced religious discrimination or hate crimes), government affairs (CAIR helps elected officials understand policy issues related to Islam and Muslims), and communications (CAIR works with local and national news media to ensure an accurate image of Islam and Muslims is presented to the American public). CAIR-Ohio gives a voice to the state’s more than 150,000 Muslims, including 35,000 in Central Ohio. Formed in 1998, CAIR-Ohio is based in Columbus, with offices in Cincinnati and Cleveland. To better serve the Muslim community—and all Ohioans—more offices are expected to open throughout the state.

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