(BALTIMORE, MD, 11/16/2022) – The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today said it has submitted 11 policy priorities for the state’s Muslim communities to Maryland’s Governor-Elect Wes Moore and his administration.
The list of 11 policy priorities was developed in consultation with Muslim leaders after soliciting input from a wide range of mosques and Muslim organizations across the state.
Among these, CAIR identified the following:
1. Funding and resources for Muslim non-profit organizations that serve immigrants, refugees, incarcerated people, unhoused people, survivors of domestic violence, and other at-risk populations
2. Developing a statewide taskforce to research, assess, and publish a report on the prevalence of faith-based bullying of Muslim children in Maryland public schools, with the goal of providing specific recommendations to address this growing public health crisis
3. Funding to help mosques acquire training and resources that would enable them to improve adherence to non-profit best practices in order to better serve their communities and expand operations
4. Funding for mosques to boost security in light of increased Islamophobia and hate/bias attacks against our communities
5. Repealing Governor Hogan’s anti-BDS Executive Order that chills free speech and favors a foreign state, Israel, that is currently under investigation by the United Nations for charges of apartheid
6. Appointing qualified Muslims to cabinet positions and equitable hiring practices including Muslim representation in various state level departments
In a statement, CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry said:
“We congratulate Governor-Elect Moore on his historic victory. Muslim communities in our state face serious challenges, including civil rights violations, harassment and bullying of children in schools, and under-resourced institutions. His team ran a dynamic campaign pledging to leave no one behind. We look forward to working with him and his administration to ensure our vibrant, diverse communities remain engaged as we seek action to address these and other pressing issues.”
CAIR has also expressed constituents’ concerns to Governor-Elect Moore and his administration over the growing movement of right wing, fascist Hindutva groups in the United States, including in Maryland, and the need to remain vigilant and leverage resources to address this threat.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR Office in Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062