(BALTIMORE, MD, 5/31/2023) – Today, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) welcomed Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s signing of several bills this month that were part of CAIR’s 2023 legislative priorities for the Muslim community. These included four bills CAIR supported and worked to pass in the Maryland General Assembly that would allow for 1) religious accommodations in public institutions of higher education, 2) stricter hate crime laws, and 3) the establishment of a commission to address hate crimes under the state’s Office of the Attorney General (OAG). CAIR is a currently a member of the OAG Hate Crimes Taskforce.
The religious accommodations bill requires each public college and university in the state to (1) adopt a policy, as specified, to accommodate students’ faith-based or religious practices and (2) provide a space on campus for such practices.
“We thank lawmakers for their support, and congratulate Maryland’s Muslim communities on the passage of these bills,” said CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry. “We particularly applaud the students who courageously testified before lawmakers in Annapolis urging support for the interfaith religious accommodations bill that was inspired by several cases our office handled of Muslim students who’ve faced challenging circumstances on college and university campuses in our state in recent years.”In one such incident, a Muslim student reportedly sustained a head injury in 2022 after a door was pushed open on her in a stairwell as she prayed in between classes, because there was nowhere else she could find to pray on campus.
CAIR expressed its appreciation to lawmakers who listened to students’ compelling testimonies and demonstrated their commitment to provide safer and more inclusive learning experiences.
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, [email protected], 410-971-6062