Dina Chehata is the Civil Rights Attorney for the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA). Dina specializes in direct legal services to American Muslims facing religious discrimination in a vast array of matters, including employment, travel, education, interaction with law enforcement and the FBI, public accommodation, prisons, as well as advocating for victims of hate crimes and hate incidents.
Prior to joining CAIR-LA, Dina worked as a litigation attorney for over seven years in both civil and administrative courts. She is licensed to practice law in the State of California.
Dina obtained her Bachelor of Arts in North African and Middle Eastern Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles. She later attended Georgetown University Law Center, where she obtained her Juris Doctor degree. While there, she served as the National Muslim Law Students Association Vice President and was an American Society of International Law, Helton Fellow.
Dina has worked with indigent women in North Africa to provide pro bono legal services and to challenge human rights abuses. In that region, she has conducted research around gender-based violence, health and reproduction, political participation, and women’s access to economic resources. She has also worked with organizations to address the intersection of national security and civil rights.
Dina enjoyed a diverse childhood, living abroad in the Middle East and in sunny Los Angeles. She continues to love travel, reading, photography, and the great outdoors.