CAIR-NY Commends Mayor De Blasio for Social Media Campaign to Counter Islamophobia
(NEW YORK, NY, 9/27/16) – The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today thanked the NYC Commission on Human Rights and the Mayor’s Community Affairs Unit and Office of Immigrant Affairs for launching “I Am Muslim, I Am NYC,” a social media campaign to promote Muslim visibility and inclusivity in New York City.
SEE: #IAmMuslimNYC
“In the wake of recent attacks on the Muslim community, we’re grateful that our allies in City Hall are working to combat islamophobia and embrace Muslim New Yorkers,” said CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher. “It’s vital that all New Yorkers come to realize that Islam is not something foreign to New York City, but a part of its diverse fabric.”
“As we are seeing an alarming increase in anti-Muslim discrimination and violence, it’s important for all New Yorkers to stand together in solidarity,” said CAIR-Director of Strategic Litigation Albert Cahn. “We commend the Mayor and his administration for continuing to work with Muslim New Yorkers, at a time when many politicians choose to ignore or even vilify this community.”
The Mayor’s campaign comes in the wake of several widely-publicized attacks on Muslim New Yorkers. Earlier this month, CAIR-NY welcomed a hate crime charge for an attack on two Muslim women pushing babies in strollers. The alleged attacker punched and kicked the victims and tried to pull off their Islamic head scarves, or hijabs.
SEE: CAIR-NY: 2 Muslim Women, Babies Attacked in Alleged Hate Crime (CNN)
http://www.cnn.com/…/brooklyn-muslim-women-attac…/index.html
Last month, CAIR-NY welcomed the announcement of charges of murder in the first degree brought against the alleged killer of a Queens imam (religious leader) and his associate. CAIR-NY similarly urged the NYPD and the district attorney to continue the investigation of a possible hate motive in that case.
SEE: CAIR-NY Welcomes Charges Against Alleged Killer of Queens Imam and Associate, Urges Hate Crime Probe
https://www.cair.com/…/13708-cair-ny-welcomes-charges-again…
CAIR-NY has noted a spike in anti-Muslim discrimination and hate crimes in recent months, which the civil rights group attributes at least in part to Islamophobic rhetoric used by various public figures.
CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.
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CONTACT: CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher, 917-669-4006, anasher@cair.com; Director of Strategic Litigation Albert Cahn, 571-766-6273, acahn@cair.com, CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com