As Salaamu Alaikum,
Each year brings its own set of challenges—and 2022 was no different. But as I reflected on the past year, I was struck by CAIR California (CAIR-CA)’s commitment to following through. To staying in the fight, long after the national media may have moved on. To making sure that we do right by our community, no matter how long it takes.
In 2022, the news media moved on from the 2021 withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and the subsequent humanitarian crisis. But CAIR-CA continued to welcome new Afghan arrivals, providing them legal aid to navigate our immigration process, and connecting them with community members for resettlement assistance.
After the Biden administration rescinded the Muslim Ban in 2021, much of our country moved on. But CAIR-CA kept working, calling for greater efforts to unify families separated by the ban and winning a court decision in 2022 that requires the government to right the wrongs of the ban. While the litigation is ongoing, so too are our efforts.
We also saw the next step in a 16-year-long court battle over the FBI’s illegal surveillance of mosques in Southern California. The Supreme Court refused to endorse the federal government’s attempts to dismiss the religious discrimination claims at hand.
CAIR-CA’s work makes me proud to be a part of this community. We don’t give up. We will always be there to defend the rights of American Muslims through our:
- Empowerment of young Muslims with comprehensive leadership programs and our pushback against bullying in schools.
- Legal defense of civil rights, including the right to wear a hijab or receive accommodation for time to pray at work.
- Civic advocacy in Sacramento, where we helped pass legislation to disqualify biased law enforcement officers and grant relief to defendants who suffered racial bias in court.
We stand with our community, united for a society where we can live, learn, worship, and work in peace.
Thank you for being a part of our fight and supporting CAIR-CA’s work.
We ask for your support to help us continue our work throughout 2023.
Sincerely,
Fawad Shaiq
Chair of the Board, CAIR California