ABOUT SD
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OUR VISION
To be a leading advocate for Justice & Mutual Understanding.
OUR MISSION
To enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
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CAIR at a glance
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), grassroots civil rights and advocacy group. CAIR is America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, with regional offices nationwide and in Canada. The national headquarters is located on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C.
CAIR San Diego was established as a full time office in 2006 to serve the needs American Muslims in San Diego County.
San Diego Area (CAIR-SD) Staffback to top
Hanif Mohebi 
| Executive Director
Mr. Mohebi is raised in the heart of Silicon Valley, he is the former Director of a Communication Consulting Firm in San Jose; he has held various directing positions at for-profit and non-profit organizations. At a young age, he was exposed to both United States, United Nations, and community dignitaries which has influenced his character. He has appeared in both local and national media outlets bridging the gap between minorities and the mainstream Americans. Mr. Mohebi has completed a Pre-PhD program, and has published research. He has a BA in Communication Studies with an emphasis on Globalization and Social Justice. He has emerged as a guest speaker at high schools, universities, companies and community events on variety of topics ranging from Concepts of World Citizenship to The Cycle of Love, to History of Anti-Civil Liberties Legislations. He is a young and passionate Muslim American with a wonderful cosmopolitan attitude and great love for civil rights, human rights, and the Constitution of the United States. He is obsessed with the idea of bringing about a positive change to the world through dedicating his life to serving humanity. In quest for this dream, he joins CAIR San Diego, as an Executive Director, with glowing recommendations and over a decade of community service.
Edgar Hopida | Senior Consultant
Edgar D. Hopida is an American-born Filipino who converted to Islam in 1998. He has worked as CAIR-San Diego's Director of Public Relations since 2006. Edgar has appeared on local and national media programs such as KFMB/CBS, KGTV/ABC, KUSI, KOCT, XETV/Fox, CNN w/ Paula Zahn, CNN Headline News w/ Erica Hill, Roger Hedgecock Show, Rick Amatto Show, Cox Channel 4 Shades of San Diego and CNN Radio. He has also been interviewed and has regularly written for a number of local newspapers such as the San Diego Union Tribune, North County Times, San Diego Daily Transcript, Street Lights, La Prensa San Diego, and various newswire services on American Islamic issues.
Mr. Hopida has been invited and has spoken at many rallies, universities, Islamic centers, churches, and ethnic events. Through CAIR's work of outreach and education, Edgar maintains close contact with public officials, law enforcement agencies, and interfaith organizations to ensure a better understanding and treatment of Muslims.
In addition to his work with CAIR, he is a founding member of the Logan Islamic Community Center, Muslim community volunteer for R.J Donovan California State Correctional Facility, Current Affairs Commentator/Book Reviewer of the Earthbound internet radio show “Discourse,” a founding member of the United for a Hate Free San Diego, Member of the County of San Diego District Attorney’s Interfaith Advisory Board,Member of the San Diego Regional Hate Crimes Coalition and a Columbia University Next Generation Project Fellow for the West Coast Assembly.
Edgar D. Hopida holds a Bachelors degree in Sociology from San Diego State University. Hopida’s religious education includes a decade long studying of several classical Islamic texts covering Islamic law, Islamic legal theory, theology, Sufism (Islamic Mysticism), Hadith (Prophetic Traditions), and the Biography of the Prophet Muhammad with several Muslim scholars and specialists.
Sadaf Tajzoy Hane | Civil Rights Director
Sadaf Tajzoy Hane obtained her B.A. in Political Science - International Relations and minor in English Literature from the University of California, San Diego. She received her J.D. degree from California Western School of Law in San Diego. While in law school, Sadaf was a research assistant for a proposal for jury reform in Puerto Rico. She also clerked at the Multiple Conflicts Office, a division of the San Diego Public Defender, and assisted solely on capital crimes cases. She is currently handling legal cases and providing legal advice to community members on civil rights issues. Sadaf is also a Board Member on the District Attorney's Interfaith Advisory Board and a member o the Hate Crimes Coalition in San Diego. She also serves as a Volunteer Attorney at Casa Cornelia, providing pro bono legal services.
CAIR-SD Law Clerks & Internsback to top
Kevin Iraniha | Intern
Kevin Iraniha was born here in San Diego, at the Balboa Navel base. He is an American Iranian Muslim who obtained his B.A. in Political Science at San Diego State University. He received his M.A. in International Law and the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes from the United Nations Mandated University for Peace (Upeace) in Costa Rica. Kevin has been a long time human rights activist while volunteering his time for the Islamic Community. Kevin helped lead the 2009 Viva Palestina Convoy, was treasurer for the SDSU Students for Justice in Palestine, President of the Upeace Students for Justice in Palestine, history teacher for the Islamic Educational Center of San Diego, and Muslim Student Association leader for Upeace.
Amal Darmal | Intern
Hodo Mohammad | Intern
Brandon Lio | Intern
Aisha Shaikh | Intern
CAIR-SD Executive Committeeback to top
Currently no Executive Committee Members
CAIR-California Boardback to top
Masoud Nassimi | Chair
Masoud Nassimi attended Purdue University where he received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Civil Engineering. He has been working for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) since July 1988. Mr. Nassimi also has been a part-time Algebra instructor at Los Angeles Valley College since 1991. He is the author of a college textbook and co-author of "How to perform Hajj (Step by Step)" with Dr. Ahmed Sakr. Mr. Nassimi is the Chairman of the Board of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)-California overseeing four of its chapters - Bay Area, Sacramento, Greater Los Angeles Area and San Diego. He is also the founder of Afghan American Muslim Outreach (AAMO). He is married with three children.
Wazhma Mojaddidi, Esq. | Vice President
Safaa Ibrahim | Treasurer
Safaa Ibrahim holds a Bachelor of Science in International Business from Strayer University. Her professional experience includes internet and software project management, operations, marketing, and she has contributed to the establishment of two small business start-ups. In the past five years, Ms. Ibrahim has shifted her career path by dedicating herself to nonprofit endeavors by volunteering full-time to the San Francisco Bay Area community. She has been active with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter (CAIR-SFBA), the Muslim Community Association (MCA), and GiveLight Foundation. Ms. Ibrahim was appointed Executive Director of CAIR-SFBA in July 2005 and currently serves on the executive committee for the chapter.
Hussam Ayloush | Member
Hussam Ayloush is the Executive Director and has been since 1998. He frequently lectures on Islam, media relations, civil rights, hate crimes and international affairs pertaining to American Muslims. He has consistently appeared in local, national, and international media advocating and articulating the mainstream Muslim position on various issues.
Dr. Hamza El Nakhal | Member
Dr. Hamza El-Nakhal is a retired professor. He was born in Cairo, Egypt. His B.S. (1964) and M.S. (1965) degrees were in Food Science and Technology from University Of Ein Shams In Cairo. His Ph. D. degree is in Microbiology from UCD 1976. He worked in the US, Saudi Arabia and Egypt at different times. He is married with two daughters, one son and one grand son. As a student in Davis, Hamza served as president of International club, Orientation club. He, also, was a member of the international student advisory committee to the Late Chancellor James Mayer and member of Club Finance Council of ASUCD. As a university professor, beside teaching and research, he served as head of Dept. and chaired many committees including Budget, Laboratories, Scientific research, curriculum, admission and registration and many others. Hamza has many published one book in Microbiology, many scientific papers and educational papers. After retirement, Hamza served in many non-profit organizations including Human, Civil Rights, Charity, Interfaith and Community service. Currently Serving as: member of Community Advisory Board to Davis Police Dept., member of the Board of Directors of International House and member of the Board of Directors of Davis Community Meals.
Sameena Usman | Member
Noha Salem | Member
Dr. Ashraf Ibrahim | Member
Dr. Ibrahim is a Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and is based in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. He received his B. Sc. from Kuwait University, Kuwait with honors. He then attended Post graduate school at Loughborough University of Technology, UK where he obtained a Ph.D. degree in Microbial Physiology. Dr. Ibrahim completed his Post doctoral training in Infectious Diseases at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Dr. Ibrahim’s research focuses on studying mechanisms of fungal and bacterial infections to translate this knowledge into novel therapeutic interventions. Dr. Ibrahim has pioneered the use of iron chelation therapy for treating the lethal infection, mucormycosis. Dr. Ibrahim has also been a leading figure, among others, in developing a vaccine that targets the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and the fungus Candida, which are the second and third most common causes of bloodstream infections. He co-founded NovaDigm Therapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company, to translate the vaccine from the bench to the bedside. Dr. Ibrahim also co-founded Spectral Platforms, a biotechnology company focusing on developing rapid diagnostic techniques and determining of fast drug susceptibility tests for nosocomial and community acquired infections. Dr. Ibrahim is an NIH funded investigators who coauthored more than 100 peer-reviewed research papers, book chapters and review articles and serves as an Ad Hoc reviewer of numerous peer-reviewed Journals as well as a temporary reviewer of the NIH study sections.
Asem Abusir | Member
Asem Abusir is an Independent IT consultant and a member of technology savvy executive leadership team. Asem was CEO/Founder of Texum Technology until recently acquired by another company. He Started his career 1987 with Quotron Systems (Citibank Subsidiary) managing a network that provides ticker line to brokers nationwide before the Internet. Asem has Bachelors of Science in Technical Management with Electrical Engineering education from California State University, Long Beach. Recently earned the MBA degree in Project Management. He was on the JSF Unix Network team with Northrop Grumman when they were awarded the project. He held many positions with HP and IBM providing Network services and security. Asem is married with five children living in Southern California for the last thirty years.
Ziad Asghar | Member
Ziad Asghar serves on the Executive Committee of CAIR-SD. He is also on the board of Iqraa Academy of San Diego, a non-profit academic institution focused on Arabic and Quranic learning. Ziad works on wireless product & technology strategy in the semiconductor industry. He holds a Masters of Science in Electrical Engineering degree from Purdue University and a Masters of Business Administration degree from University of California, San Diego.
Rashid Ahmad | Advisor
Rashid Ahmad is an alumnus of UC Davis, a civil-geotechnical engineer, and Chief of Facilities Enlargement at the California Department of Water Resources. He also serves on Sacramento County District Attorney's Multi Cultural Council and Shifa Community Clinic Community Board.
Proven Results. Our Annual Reportback to top
2011/2012 Annual Report
Download the 2011/2012 Annual Report in .PDF format
Our annual report is an opportunity to share our advancements in our grassroots advocacy work with the broader community. As with prior years, this year was full of exciting and proud moments for CAIR and the California Muslim community.
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